They were edging away from it before, but Evacuate the Dancefloor is Cascada's giant leap away from the vocal trance style that launched their career. Less dreamy and more thumping, the sound here isn't that far from Lady GaGa or Katy Perry's material, but with lyrics that are generally positive and lead singer Natalie Horler remaining effervescent as ever, fans will immediately be able to identify these tracks as the floor-filling act they love. The polished and well-crafted title track will make any pre-club gearing up extra exciting, while the following "Hold On" is a staple of any album from the group: a rousing, motivational anthem. The noisy bits in "Fever" are a surprise, bringing Cascada closer to the electro-house of Benny Benassi and David Guetta, although that's as edgy as it gets. Anyone looking for something "deep" will be disappointed that the heartache numbers -- "Everytime I Hear Your Name" and "Why You Had to Leave" -- choose danceability over poignancy, but if you need a lift, a hip shake, and your hands in the air, Cascada deliver once again.
© David Jeffries /TiVo