There’s no one word to describe this album. I could call it a musical journey, a perfect amalgamation of electric fervor. I could go on. Hugo Pierre Leclercq, popularly known by his stage name Madeon, is all of 20 years age.
Baffling, considering his accomplishments so far, including, working with prominent superstars like Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Ellie Goulding and Muse to name a few. ‘Adventure’, boasts of collaborations with Dan Smith from Bastille, Passion Pit, R&B Singer Kyan amongst others.
Madeon’s ascent to the big stage was inevitable with the first teaser from the album titled ‘Imperium’ making it’s way on to the popular soccer video game FIFA 15, furthering the French legacy of the scintillating and catchy electro scene, dominated by legends Daft Punk and Justice. Adventure, by rights, is an incredibly unique and scenic offering.
With past criticism and his lack of interest in the mainstream EDM scene for it’s bland personality , Madeon’s careful and finely considered approach sets him apart from his peers, more so from the mainstream ‘4 on the floor’ chart toppers. Possibly why, Adventure, at it’s core formula leans more towards Pop.
Signature Madeon pads and winding scales in the form of the intro single Isometric progresses towards an anticipation of what’s to come.
You’re On , which was the second teaser after Imperium, is a fresh take on Madeon’s production abilities. Equipped with the soothing vocals of Kyan and crafty grooves, we’ve had this on repeat for a while now.
Intermittent vocal chops and surprise 8-bit samples is what perfectly describes the glitch hop inspired ‘Ok’. Born out of a studio session with Charlie XCX, the vocal sample made it onto the track nevertheless.
Dan Smith of Bastille fame makes it onto the tracklist next with the emotional yet melancholic indie offering ‘La Lune’.
‘Pay No Mind’ featuring Passion Pit is one of the highlights of the album. Heavily inspired by the amalgamation of Madeon’s uplifting groovy synths and drums coupled with Passion Pit’s impressive vocal range, this one is a feel good Dance number we love!
Interestingly, Madeon himself lends his voice to three of the tracks on the album. Be it the nu-disco ‘Zephyr’ or the mild yet emotionally uplifting ‘Beings’ or the album closing tune ‘Home’, Madeon is far from an amateur. The rawness in his voice adds character and a distinct persona to the album. There’s nothing the French prodigy can’t do.
An interesting addition to the album roster is none other than Mark Foster from Foster The People. With ‘Nonsense’ the collaborative effort is nothing short of inspiring as well as distinct with both artists stepping out of their respective comfort zones.
Up next is the beautiful, downtempo ballad ‘Innocence’ featuring Aquilo. Brimming with chills and beautifully crafted elements, Innocence is right up there on our favourites.
‘Pixel Empire’ reminds you of Madeon’s signature synths and heavy drums from previous productions, while capturing a new sense of dramatic energy and feeling of empowerment amongst listeners.
Madeon’s abilities knows no bounds and the album’s cohesiveness along with his instrumental expression propels him to tell a story with his music. Madeon’s quality for musicianship has been done full justice to, and it is only a while before he scales new heights to superstardom with his uncompromised art and creative boldness.
