Future Perfect (Loadstar album)

Future Perfect is the debut studio album by British production duo Loadstar. The album was released on 26 May 2013 through RAM Records.[3] Loadstar appeared on DJ Target and MistaJam's BBC Radio 1Xtra shows to promote the album.[4][5] They also hosted an Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1.[6] The album charted at number 168 on the UK Albums Chart and also on the dance and indie charts.

Future Perfect
Studio album by
Loadstar
Released26 May 2013 (2013-05-26)
Recorded2010–13[1]
Genre
LabelRAM Records
Producer
Loadstar chronology
Future Perfect
(2013)		 I Need The Night
(2017)
Singles from Future Perfect
  1. "Black & White"
    Released: 9 December 2012
  2. "Refuse to Love"
    Released: 21 April 2013
Future Perfect (Remixes)
Remix album by
Loadstar
Released15 December 2013 (2013-12-15)
Recorded2013
Genre
LabelRAM Records
Producer
Loadstar chronology
Future Perfect
(2013)		 Future Perfect (Remixes)
(2013)

Background and recording

Some of the initial ideas for album tracks, such as "Eat My Tears", were created as early as 2010. "Losing You" was another of the first to be produced. The duo produced probably "over 100 tracks" since the album concept came about, but only a few made the final cut.[1] In May 2012, the album was considered "finished" and due for October 2012 release, but the release was pushed forward to May 2013 after more tracks were produced for it.[7] Speaking about the album, Nick said the following:

“We’ve had time to really go deep into our ideas and fine tune how we wanted to present the album. It’s about finding the balance between the dancefloor D&B that people know us for and trying to show a different side to us like our deeper material, the dubstep stuff, even hip-hop influences. That’s why it’s taken so long to get it right. Loadstar has been a journey of discovery for us. We were getting associated with our old sound for a long time, Loadstar, and notably this album, is a new beginning. That’s why it couldn’t be ‘D&B bangers album with nothing in between’ album. There’s more to albums than that, and there’s more to us than that, too…”

The Future Perfect remix album was released on 15 December 2013.[8][9] Loadstar hosted a remix contest for the track "Dr. Karg", choosing Λlity and Abstr4ct as the winners whose remixes feature on the release. They also produced a VIP mix of "Losing You" featuring Jenn D to appear on the release alongside the winners and three RAM Records artists. Loadstar have also created a VIP mix of "Warrior" featuring Jakes, which features on the Andy C compilation Nightlife 6.

Writing and composition

Influences and themes

The duo were influenced by the breakbeats on The Chemical Brothers' album Exit Planet Dust, as well as Dillinja's album Cybotron which inspired Nick's melodic touches and Gavin's technical skills. Nick was majorly influenced by Leftfield's album Leftism, and it played a key part in his love for dance music.[1]

The album title Future Perfect originated from a demo song they wrote, which ended up not making it onto the album, and was also inspired by its grammatical sense. The duo "just wanted it to be an artist album, a piece of work that summed us up as a collective, and a complete project and that had all our styles and influences in there."[10]

Singles
  • "Black & White" (featuring Benny Banks) is the album's lead single. It was released on 9 December 2012 alongside the B-side "Vatican Roulette" and several remixes. The single received positive feedback, accumulating over one million YouTube views[11][12] and receiving frequent airplay on BBC Radio 1Xtra.
  • "Refuse to Love" is the album's second single.[13] It was released on 21 April 2013 alongside the B-side "Flight" and several remixes. The single was less successful than "Black & White", but still received notable airplay. Takura appeared on MistaJam's 1Xtra show to do a live PA on the track.
  • "Warrior" (featuring Jakes) is a promotional single from the album. It is also one of the four tracks included in the double-vinyl EP release of the album (among "Scorpio", "Don't Wanna Be Alone" and "Be There").[14] The song was never given independent release, but it was named Zane Lowe's Hottest Record in the World on Radio 1 on 30 May 2013.[15]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian[16]
Drum and Bass Arena(favourable)[1]
Data Transmission(favourable)[10]
The Frontliner(favourable)[17]
RWD Magazine[18]
DJ Mag Canada8/10[19]

The album received mixed to positive reviews from critics, but failed to chart despite a TV ad campaign.[18] However, the album received positive reviews from renowned dance music blogs Mixmag and DJ Mag.[19] Mixmag said "the duo primed for D&B domination" and that the album "adeptly works the line between stadium anthems and underground bangers".[20] RWD Magazine credited the album as "fusing perfectly the intensity of D&B". DJ Mag Canada gave the album 8/10 and said the album is "15 tracks of summer blockbuster dramatics and air punching energy".[18] They also said the following:

"In a release with fifteen tracks, we can’t expect one anthem after another, with the occurrence of such albums being rare. What we do get from this particular LP is a variety of tracks which have already been dominating mixes and live sets for weeks and will continue to do so through the future. What we also get from Future Perfect are tracks that are going to provide a foundation for both themselves and other producers to develop their sound while inspiring continued growth and the blurring of boundaries."

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Do You Feel Me" (featuring Scrufizzer)2:33
2."Refuse to Love" (featuring Takura)4:12
3."Warrior" (featuring Jakes)3:50
4."Be There"3:58
5."Black & White" (featuring Benny Banks)3:15
6."Scorpio"4:11
7."Don't Wanna Be Alone"4:13
8."Losing You" (featuring Jenn D)4:30
9."Boa" (featuring Hadouken!)3:44
10."Sliders" (featuring Meleka)3:05
11."Eat My Tears"4:49
12."Drowning"4:52
13."Give It To Me"4:10
14."Memories"4:28
15."Distance" (featuring Lloyd Yates)4:03
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
16."Dr. Karg"4:10
17."Flight"4:19
18."Need You"3:59
19."Bomber"4:30
20."Passenger"4:35
21."Second Skin"3:44
22."Lancelot"4:06
iTunes Store bonus videos
No.TitleLength
23."Space Between" (music video)3:03
24."Black & White" (music video)3:20
25."Refuse to Love" (music video)3:20
Signed CD bonus disc
No.TitleLength
1."Dr. Karg"4:10
2."Lancelot"4:06
3."Need You"3:59
4."Second Skin"3:44
Double-vinyl EP
No.TitleLength
1."Warrior" (featuring Jakes)3:50
2."Scorpio"4:11
3."Don't Wanna Be Alone"4:13
4."Be There"3:58
Future Perfect (Remixes)
No.TitleLength
1."Losing You" (featuring Jenn D) (VIP Mix)3:50
2."Need You" (Frankee Remix)4:13
3."Give It To Me" (DC Breaks Remix)4:26
4."Eat My Tears" (René LaVice Remix)3:41
Future Perfect (Remixes) - Digital bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
5."Dr. Karg" (Λlity Remix)6:01
6."Dr. Karg" (Abstr4kt Remix)4:59
Notes
  • Track listing and credits from album booklet.
  • "Don't Wanna Be Alone" features uncredited vocals from Scarlett Quinn.
  • "Drowning" features uncredited vocals from L. James.
  • "Second Skin" features uncredited vocals from Mark Underdown.

Chart performance

Weekly charts
Chart (2013) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[21] 168
UK Dance Albums (OCC)[22] 18
UK Indie Albums (OCC)[23] 30
UK Indie Breakers (OCC)[24] 7

Release history
Region Date Format Label
Worldwide 26 May 2013 CD, digital download RAM Records

References
  1. "The Art Of The Album: Loadstar". Drum and Bass Arena. 2013-06-03.
  2. "Future Perfect (RAM Records) :: Beatport". Beatport. 2013-05-26.
  3. "iTunes - Music - Future Perfect by Loadstar". iTunes. 2013-05-26.
  4. "BBC Radio 1Xtra - DJ Target, Special Guest - Loadstar". BBC Radio 1Xtra. 2013-05-17.
  5. "BBC Radio 1Xtra - MistaJam, Loadstar Behind the Beats, Loadstar- Guest Mix". BBC Radio 1Xtra. 2013-05-04.
  6. "BBC Radio 1 - BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix, Loadstar". BBC Radio 1. 2013-07-13.
  7. "Loadstar - DMC World Network". DMC World. March 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-07.
  8. "Loadstar - Future Perfect Remixes". The Bass Collective. 2013-12-02.
  9. "Loadstar". Facebook. 2013-08-22.
  10. "Loadstar: The future's bright, the future's perfect". Data Transmission. 2013-07-19.
  11. "Loadstar - Black & White (Ft. Benny Banks) (Official Video) - YouTube". YouTube. 2012-11-21.
  12. "iTunes - Music - Black & White (Remixes) by Loadstar". iTunes. 2012-12-09. Archived from the original on 2013-11-11.
  13. "Loadstar - Refuse To Love (Official Video) - YouTube". YouTube. 2013-03-22.
  14. "Loadstar - Future Perfect (Vinyl)". Discogs.
  15. "Loadstar - Warrior (BBC Radio 1 Zane Lowe Hottest Record) by Loadstar on SoundCloud". SoundCloud. 2013-05-30.
  16. "Loadstar: Future Perfect - review". The Guardian. 2013-05-23.
  17. "Loadstar - Future Perfect (Release)". The Frontliner. 2013-05-29. Archived from the original on 2013-09-16.
  18. "Loadstar - Future Perfect (Official TV Ad)". YouTube. 2013-05-15.
  19. "DJ Mag Canada Beta - Loadstar - Future Perfect LP". DJ Mag Canada. 2013-05-28. Archived from the original on 2013-09-07.
  20. "Mixmag - KEEP AN EYE ON". Mixmag. 2013-06-17. Archived from the original on 2013-07-22.
  21. "Loadstar | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
  22. "2013 Top 40 Dance Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 8 June 2013.
  23. "2013 Top 40 Indie Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 8 June 2013.
  24. "2013 Top 40 Independent Albums Breakers Archive". Official Charts Company. 2013-06-08.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.