Kx5
Studio album by
Kx5 (Deadmau5 and Kaskade)
ReleasedMarch 17, 2023 (2023-03-17)
Genre
Length43:34
Label
Producer
Singles from Kx5
  1. "Escape"
    Released: March 11, 2022
  2. "Take Me High"
    Released: September 16, 2022
  3. "Alive"
    Released: October 8, 2022
  4. "Avalanche"
    Released: November 11, 2022
  5. "When I Talk"
    Released: December 9, 2022
  6. "Sacrifice"
    Released: February 17, 2023

Kx5 is the eponymous debut album by Kx5, the collaborative project of Canadian DJ Deadmau5 and American producer Kaskade. It was released on March 17, 2023, through Mau5trap and Arkade.[2]

Background

Deadmau5 and Kaskade have previously collaborated several times since 2008, with previous songs including "I Remember", "Move for Me", and "Beneath with Me".

On March 11, 2022, the pair released their debut single under the name Kx5, "Escape" featuring Hayla.[3] Deadmau5 told Dancing Astronaut that the song is a "throwback to that kind of minimalistic approach, to that melodic sing-songy house".[4] The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart.[5]

On September 6, the duo announced that they would be releasing an album, alongside announcing the next Kx5 single "Take Me High", which was released on September 16.[6]

On January 31, 2023, the duo announced that their album, self-titled Kx5, would be released on March 17.[7]

Track listing

Kx5 track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Alive" (featuring the Moth & the Flame)
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
  • Bjarnson
  • Pyfer
  • Shaw
5:08
2."Sacrifice" (with Sofi Tukker)
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
  • Beynon
  • Bjarnson
  • Halpern
  • Hawley-Weld
  • Mits
4:39
3."Escape" (featuring Hayla)
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
  • Will Clarke
  • Camden Cox
  • Eddie Jenkins
  • Hayley Philippa Williams
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
  • Clarke
  • Cox
  • Jenkins
4:00
4."Bright Lights" (featuring AR/CO)
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
3:23
5."Pwdr Blu" (featuring Brother.)
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
  • Bjarnson
  • Collin Emery
  • Mits
  • Pyfer
 3:36
6."When I Talk" (with Elderbrook)
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
  • Bjarnson
  • Maximilian Jaeger
  • Alexander Kotz
  • Mits
  • Brandon Santell
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
  • Jaeger
3:27
7."Eat Sleep" (featuring Richard Walters)
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
  • Bjarnson
  • Mits
  • Richard Walters
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
  • Bjarnson
  • Mits
  • Walters
4:30
8."Take Me High"
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
  • Bjarnson
  • Mits
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
  • Bjarnson
  • Mits
4:15
9."Avalanche" (featuring James French)
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
  • Bjarnson
  • Johan Brinkhuis
  • Mits
  • James Oliver
  • Marco Porombka
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
  • Bjarnson
  • Mits
  • Porombka
4:21
10."Unobsidian"
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
  • Raddon
  • Zimmerman
6:11
Total length:43:34

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]

Kx5 was generally well-received by critics. Zach Salafia of Dancing Astronaut called the album "one of the year's best and most influential albums".[1] Sebastian Flores Chong of EDMTunes described the album as "an unexpected, yet welcomed one".[9] Ellie Mullins of We Rave You described the album as "mixing nostalgic dance with the expertise of production that only Kaskade and deadmau5 can keep so fresh".[10]

Catherine Smith from MXdawn wrote: Kx5 is a great EDM album that fans of both electronic, as well as pop, will enjoy. Its foot-tapping rhythms and gritty bass tones provide this record with depth and feeling. The album manages to keep a consistent energy throughout each song, with its driving beats and heavy synthesizers. Though many of the songs on the album seem to blend together, the vocals are what help each track stand apart. Fans of EDM and pop will definitely want to listen to this new album by Kx5.[11]

LA Coliseum performance

On December 10, 2022, following their debut performance at EDC 2022, Kx5 performed a set at the LA Coliseum. With over 46,000 people in attendance, the performance set a record for the "biggest ticketed global dance event for 2022."[12] The performance featured a stage production which included two pod like structures made up of LED panels and motorized lights which moved side to side and rotated 360 degrees along guide rails drilled into the stage's floor. However, a minor blunder occurred when one of the electric generators back stage suddenly caught fire causing the entire power network to revert into an immediate safe mode.[12] This brought the entire show to a halt and left the 50,000+ concert attendees stranded in the dark. After a few minutes of trouble shooting, the problem was rectified and the show resumed without pause.[12]

Charts

Chart performance for Kx5
Chart (2023) Peak
position
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[13] 6

References

  1. 1 2 Salafia, Zach (March 17, 2023). "Kaskade, deadmau5 build on historic legacy with Kx5's powerful debut album". Dancing Astronaut.
  2. ↑ "Kx5 Unleashes Stunning Self-Titled Debut Album | EDM Identity". Edmidentity.com. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  3. ↑ Mier, Tomás (11 March 2022). "Kaskade and Deadmau5 drop 'Escape' under duo called Kx5". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  4. ↑ Klemow, David (March 1, 2022). "Exclusive: Kaskade and deadmau5 unveil new project 14 years in the making, Kx5 [Interview]". Dancing Astronaut.
  5. ↑ "Deadmau5". Billboard.
  6. ↑ Lambeau, Alex (September 6, 2022). "Kx5 lead news of forthcoming debut album with 'Take Me High'". Dancing Astronaut.
  7. ↑ Arrpita (2023-01-31). "Kx5 Have An Official Release Date For Their Debut Album". EDMTunes. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  8. ↑ Neil Z. Yeung. "Kx5 - Kx5". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  9. ↑ Chong, Sebastian Flores (March 17, 2023). "Kaskade And Deadmau5 Release Their New Duo's Debut Album 'KX5'". Edmtunes.com.
  10. ↑ Mullins, Ellie (March 17, 2023). "Kaskade & deadmau5 finally unveil their debut album as Kx5: Listen". Weraveyou.com.
  11. ↑ "Album Review: Kx5". Music.mxdwn.com. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 Barrionuevo, Alexei (12 December 2022). "Kaskade & Deadmau5 Shrug Off 'Exploding Generators' at Debut Kx5 Stadium Show". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  13. ↑ "Deadmau5 Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.