Cascada has left a trail of hits and misses in their wake. Stomping across the globe with that Hi-NRG beat, the trio has created original productions and done plenty of covers. They have re-introduced dance music into mainstream radio, but at a cost. Many diehard fans of the dance community feel that the group have misrepresented everything they've been aiming to achieve, while others advocate their successes and that the group has millions of fans. I believe both parties are right, and someone in the Cascada camp agreed. Enter "Evacuate the Dancefloor," the lead single off Cascada's new album of the same name. The track is dramatically different from their catalog, channeling a Lady Gaga/RedOne feel that was both successful and led some listeners to hope for a new Cascada. Did Evacuate the Dancefloor deliver as an album? I think so.
What They Do Best
Cascada did not abandon their signature sound for their new album, and for that I am glad. Songs like "Ready or Not," "Hold On," "Dangerous," and "What About Me" maintain the heavy jump-style beat and tinkling bells that sum up what Cascada does best, including Natalie's respectable vocals. And besides "Dangerous," which I am not all that fond of, they are good tracks. "Ready or Not" and "Hold On" are particularly catchy and I found myself singing along during my first listen. That's a good trait for potential radio singles. But the potential doesn't stop with those tracks. "Fever," another charmer of a song, raises the temperature with a gritty, grungy feel to its house beats. The verses also channel Lady Gaga again, and in the first one, Natalie even gets censored! A great party track with some decent mixes.
Branching Out
Cascada dips into pure house territory with "Everytime I Hear Your Name," with summery beats accompanying Natalie's longing vocal delivery. This track really caught me off guard because they handled the sound so well without making it cheesy. This was another track I found myself singing along to.
On "Why You Had To Leave," they employ a darker house sound which reminds me of the sounds of the height of European vocal house, when DJ Sammy was topping the charts. It helps that Sammy’s compatriot Yanou is part of Cascada, I believe he really brings this sound to life with Natalie's voice. Though I love these songs, house isn't a huge departure from jump-style. So while I am impressed with that they've managed, I am more impressed with the huge stylistic differences they put into place on tracks like "Evacuate the Dancefloor" and "Fever," as well as "Hold Your Hands Up" and "Breathless."
"Hold Your Hands Up" is a simple guitar-based pop track, immensely catchy with no trace of a dance beat in sight. This cut is a breath of fresh air on the album, and Natalie sounds beautiful. Going for a more upbeat, poppy, Miley Cyrus/Avril Lavigne sound on "Breathless," Cascada keeps the BPM around what you would find on a typical track but the beat is subdued and more emphasis is placed on the electric guitar and the rock party vibe. Ending the album is Yanou's Candlelight Mix of "Draw the Line," and while I find it beautiful and enjoyable, I also think I'd like to hear the original. Considering the intimate style in which Natalie delivers her performance, it is most likely the actual original version.
Summary
The thing that strikes me so heavily about this album is that it is
universally enjoyable. I pan Cascada often for being the mutation of
dance music to casual radio listeners. Those who like Cascada tend to
get the wrong impression of typical dance music, and those who don't
like Cascada assume all dance music sounds like them and write the
genre off as a whole, feeling they won't like it as well. As such, I
tend not to actively search out Cascada's music. Evacuate the
Dancefloor, as an album, is good from beginning to end. There is
something here for all listeners (with "Evacuate the Dancefloor" even
having a guest rapper!) and even the jump-style songs, which I
typically don't enjoy, I find myself humming or singing to, or going
out of my way to listen to. With this in mind, I think Cascada
naysayers should take a moment to reevaluate this trio because they
may just surprise you. They surprised me.
Released August 2009 on Robbins Entertainment.
Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more
information, please see our Ethics Policy.
