B-B-B-Basshunter! (Music To Make Your Mind Go 'Meh'!) (Bass Generation - Basshunter)

Member Name: plipplop

Product:	Bass Generation - Basshunter
Date:	25/10/09 (162 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's catchy, simplistic, unpretentious and jolly

Disadvantages: It's completely without credibility and it's very repetitive

A review of Bass Generation, the latest studio album by DJ/producer Basshunter. The album is available in the UK in physical and digital formats for around £8.00. The official iTunes UK version features fourteen tracks as standard, with an additional remix. The standard physical release is better value, with two discs. The first disc is as per the iTunes release; the second disc features a selection of remixes from this and previous albums.

It has long been argued, behind closed doors and elsewhere, that I have only the barest of shreds of taste when it comes to music. This is, indeed, true dear reader and testament to this fact born by the review that you are now reading. When you are with friends or family, questioning the big questions in life like, 'who the f*** buys Basshunter albums??', console yourself with the knowledge that you know at least one person who does, virtually or otherwise.

Bass Generation is in fact the fifth - yes that's right, there are four before this one - studio album from the Swedish DJ/producer and ultra-chav that is Basshunter. The first three are unknown to me, and pretty much everyone else in the UK, as the Swede only really came to light in 2008 with his European mega hit Now You're Gone, which was number one for four weeks. He's a relatively naughty fellow, as evidenced by the fact that he managed to come up with sex tapes featuring his girlfriend and him around the time that Now You're Gone was released, and it was perhaps his first studio album that was most appropriately titled (it was called The Old Shit).

Bass Generation has come about in a relatively rapid timescale, but the Hunter was wise to do so. It's extremely rare for Euro-dance acts to have any kind of longevity in the UK charts, and those that have (Cascada, Cappella, 2 Unlimited) did/do so by maintaining a constant release schedule. It will come as no surprise, therefore, to any readers who bought Now You're Gone The Album that Bass Generation is virtually the same as the album that came before if only because the Hunter barely had time to think about doing anything differently.

It's really the musical equivalent of fizzy cola bottles. Sugary, with an instant rush but not very easily digested, you eventually realise that you've had enough, but by then it's all too late and you just feel slightly ashamed about it all. The recipe is entirely consistent throughout, comprising that simple, rapidly pounding (and largely considered to be very irritating) beat that cuts in during or after a (generally) wistful vocal from the Hunter about how lonely/in love/horny he is (to be deleted as applicable). It has the depth of a small droplet of water. It has the class of a night out with Katie Price. It has the credibility of a Kia Sedona. But it can also be strangely addictive.

I'm not foolish enough to think for one second that the Hunter can actually sing or that the male vocalist who features on most of these tracks is actually the Hunter, but I still like his voice (or the sound that is intended to represent his voice). Despite the fact that it is very obviously synthesised, it still has a strange 'puppy-dog eyes' kind of effect on me that complements the pace and style of the tunes perfectly and I find his European lilt vaguely sexy. Arguably, not really intended for general listening, Bass Generation is perhaps most enjoyed at large volume in or out of the clubs, either to uplift or maintain an already heightened mood, if you know what I mean. For the most part, I can't really think of many other circumstances when the relentless pounding and whiny vocal sound would not start to irritate after more than two tracks, but after a few listens it can be bizarrely addictive and it's pretty much all I'm playing on my iPod at the moment.

The album arguably starts at its highest point - the first two tracks are easily the strongest. Every Morning (the first single to be released so far) sounds vaguely different to start with, complete with a jingly-jangly guitar intro, but the happy 'I wuv you' vocal is so trite it's actually quite appealing and the track soon becomes shameless council house at its very best. Track two (and the forthcoming single) is by far the best thing The Hunter has ever done. It's a cover of an unsuccessful Nick Kamen song from many years ago called I Promise Myself and to give it The Hunter treatment is nothing short of musical genius. The Hunter's vocal is not unlike Kamen's but the updated sound, pumping beat and little trancey bits bring it nicely up to date. It was - and remains - a great pop song and could almost have been written for The Hunter (indeed, a lot of people will be unaware that it's a cover version). It even has a big 'BASS!" robot voice before the 'dada dada dada dada' instrumental, poundy bit. Classy! I would really like to see this at number one because I always say there just isn't enough trashy Euro dance in the charts these days.

Of the fifteen standard tracks, there is a bit of variety only in that there are occasional guest appearances from other vocalists. 'I Will Learn To Love Again' features Stunt, the vocalist from the reworking of Sash's Encore Une Fois. The song's OK, but Stunt's nasal vocal starts to grate quite quickly and it doesn't really sound like a Basshunter song at all. Ironically, it's probably the weakest track on the whole disc. The second guest star is the unknown Lauren who graces piano-frantic anthem 'I Can't Deny'. It's better than Stunt's effort, bigger, harder and a bit more 'mad for it'. But it could arguably be anyone, in fairness.

The Hunter is nothing if not consistent and so if you like one or two of the songs here, you'll almost certainly like them all. In a break from tradition, there are some good tracks towards the end of the first disc. 'I Know U Know' (vocal samples aside) has the makings of a classic trance anthem. The splendiferous synth sample is quite euphoric and it's a bit of a belter really, particularly because the Hunter's vocals are kept to a minimum. It's shameless but I can't help liking 'On Our Side' either. There's a new (uncredited) guest vocalist and (you guessed it) it's a bit of a stomper (get those glo-sticks in the air boys).

It's not over yet. Disc two throws up some remixes of the stuff from the last album. The extended version of Now You're Gone is just a bit longer than the radio version and now actually sounds very tired. There's a completely bonkers remix of Now You're Gone (people of Wigan unite) and a reasonably good but still quite hectic mix of Angel In the Night. This is vaguely disappointing. The Soul Seekerz remix of Angel in the Night is excellent, much more reserved and much less mad for it. Given the opportunity to include material here that listeners may not have already heard, it seems a bit wasted. All the mixes here verge towards the frantic end of the scale and a bit of variety wouldn't have gone amiss. The last two tracks are actually in Swedish and you do wonder if, by this point, you're either hallucinating or your hearing has gone (although the Fonzerelli remix of Without Stars is, at least, less frantic).

In terms of serious music this would probably be considered a pretty dreadful effort that takes one basic idea and keeps on repeating it over and over and over again. The fact is, nonetheless, that it's playing to a specific audience of Nova-driving teenagers in Henleys t-shirts who b-b-b-b-bounce the night away and who are we to argue? In the right place and time, this is enormous fun and it doesn't take itself too seriously, which can't be a bad thing. There are some really good tracks here and some that will certainly stand the test of time in my music library. There's also the flash of genius that is I Promised Myself, which leads me to believe you haven't heard the last of The Hunter.

You were warned.

Track listing

Disc 1

1. Every Morning
2. I Promised Myself
3. Why
4. I Will Learn To Love Again Feat. Stunt
5. Don't Walk Away
6. I Still Love
7. Day & Night
8. I Can't Deny
9. Far From Home
10. I Know U Know
11. On Our Side
12. Can You
13. Plane To Spain
14. Every Morning (Michael Mind Remix Edit)
15. Numbers

Disc 2

1. Now You're Gone (Feat. DJ Mental Theo's Bazzheadz) (DJ Alex Extended Mix)
2. All I Ever Wanted (Ultra DJs Remix)
3. Angel In The Night (Headhunters Remix)
4. I Miss You (Hyperzone Remix)
5. Please Don't Go (Bad Behaviour Remix)
6. Walk On Water (Ultra DJs Remix)
7. Every Morning (Raindropz! Remix)
8. Camilla (Swedish Version)
9. Without Stars (Swedish Version)

Summary: Fifth studio album from the Hunter