September 18, 2009
Flamingo Recordings
It's been a long time coming this one, but finally and with a huge breath of fresh air we're thrilled to be presenting this album to you. It's the unique, sublime and cutting edge debut long player from Dutch dynamo Fedde le Grand. OUTPUT will be released in over 60 countries, more or less simultaneously, an achievement before we start, and by the time you've finished indulging in this 13-track masterpiece, you'll appreciate just why it's been signed to so many countries around the world. Le Grand is a perfectionist and this dear listener is what we'd like to refer to as 'sonic perfection'. OUTPUT is a true artist album, crafted by someone born to make music, perform and to entertain, proving without doubt that this is an artist with no musical boundaries. Le Grand has collaborated with some of the world's most fierce and respected artists, culminating in a long player that covers all bases. This is not a dance album, neither is it pop; in fact we're pretty pushed to find a tag for it at all, for Fedde has torn up the rulebook. Proceedings commence with an incredible collaboration featuring Rob Birch (Stereo MC's), Wild 'n Raw, and leaves you with a distinct feeling that you're in for an hour of play that promises to be pretty much sensational, and Le Grand delivers on every twist and turn. If you thought you were in for 13 tracks of house music, think again; OUTPUT is diverse, infectious, groovy, electric, sonic, breath taking and more importantly, it's just plain fun. Flavour of the moment Mitch Crown scores three records over the full 51mins with Scared of Me, Let Me Be Real and Rockin' High. From Le Grand's hip-hop infused outing with the Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am to the brother-and-sister pairing of Andy & Dorothy Sherman on hit single 3 Minutes to Explain, music by numbers this isn't – this is a young grand master at work. Ida Corr and Camille Jones, both show their love on OUTPUT with their sultry vocals sliding over sleazed up rhythms on Hard Day's Work and Shotgun. As with their previous collaborations with Le Grand, their efforts are delivered with flawless perfection. Mr. V's Back & Forth is instantly recognisable having featured heavily in many of Fedde's live sets and clearly makes up one of the album's biggest dance cuts, not forgetting one of this summer's huge records – the title track and festival banger – OUTPUT.