3/5 stars
While Diplo has been out cavorting with the who’s who of music and Hollywood and causing a general ruckus over social media, Peace Is The Mission has been fashioned together somewhere along the way. We’ve certainly come some distance from the brash stylings of Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do, and there is a marked lean towards the pop market here (‘mainstream’ is such a dirty word, isn’t it?).
The guest appearances are occasionally inspired – Ellie Goulding injects some sweetness into ‘Powerful’, while ‘Night Riders’, which brings together an ensemble cast of Travi$ Scott, 2 Chainz, Pusha T and Mad Cobra, is easily a standout. Elsewhere, chart-topper ‘Lean On’ delivers exactly what it says it will on the label, complete with vocal appearance from ‘it’ girl MØ, and opener ‘Be Together’ (featuring Wild Belle) is a pop-oriented dark horse.
In amongst the hyperactive trills and screeches – perhaps an influence from Diplo’s friend and Jack Ü collaborator Skrillex – there are plenty of moments here to be savoured.
Major Lazer might be heading in a more chart-friendly direction, but there is still loads of raucous fun to be had here.
Major Lazer’s Peace Is The Mission is available through Mad Decent/Warner.
