RIYL: Deadmau5, Danger, Andy Caldwell, Axwell, Phoenix

House music, true house music, seems to be one of those love it or hate it kind of genres adored by some clubgoers and ignored by the general populous. Yet you don’t always have to be at a serious electro show or Electric Daisy Carnival to get into the mood. There are a few artists out there spinning old-school house with finesse generally unrivaled in America at least.

While Europe boasts great legends like Tiesto and Sasha, there are a few contenders lurking stateside, and San Francisco’s own Kaskade is one of them. Just as brilliant live as he is on an album, his latest release The Grand is one of the smoothest house albums I’ve heard in a long time. It has a great progression of rhythms, changes every few measures to keep you from ever thinking it’s trance, and has its share of interesting instrumental samples.

Unfortunately The Grand isn’t the sort of album a 30 second sample will do justice. Kaskade’s mastery is not found in his hooks but rather in the build up he can create and sustain for minutes at a time in a totally un-frustrating way. It’s an album that requires a few tracks to get totally immersed in, despite opening with an unbelievably catchy lead. His style is still vocal-heavy and orchestral, but Kaskade seems to have picked up a few tricks from his work with Deadmau5 and drops in quite a bit of choppy bleeps that are still new territory for him. The Grand is chock full of collaborations and featured vocalists, but don’t worry, he keeps it well within the boundaries of the kind of panache and artistry you’d expect from the well-respected Kaskade sound. It doesn’t matter whether you’re heavily immersed in the scene or if this is your introduction to house, The Grand deserves your consideration.

Recommended Tracks:

“Angel On My Shoulder,” “Another Place,” “Saturday Night,” and “In My Arms”