Elevation

ブラック・アイド・ピーズ 2年ぶりとなる待望のニュー・アルバム『ELEVATION』

グラミー賞6度受賞歴を誇る3人組ヒップホップ・グループ=ブラック・アイド・ピーズが、前作『トランスレーション』からおよそ2年の時を経て待望の最新アルバム『ELEVATION』をリリース。
同作には英語圏&ラテン圏を中心に圧倒的な人気を誇る世界的歌姫=シャキーラと、世界を代表するトップDJ=デヴィッド・ゲッタとタッグを組んだシングル「Don't You Worry」や、10月末にリリースされたばかりのダンサブルなシングル「Simply The Best」などを収録。

Proving they could still deliver the goods on 2018s return-to-their-rap-roots, Masters of the Sun, Black Eyed Peas made a savvy pivot into the world of Latin pop with 2020s Translation. The latter albums sibling arrived two years later in the form of Elevation, a similarly dancefloor-focused party-starter for those who favor the groups electronic dance E.N.D./Beginning days. Once again enlisting a whos who from across the global community, the trio keep the energy high and the beats pulsing with irresistible party jams such as "Simply the Best" with Anitta and El Alfa; the Scatman John-interpolating "Bailar Contigo" with Daddy Yankee; the Marshall Jefferson-sampling "Muevelo" with Anuel AA; the C+C Music Factory-channeling "Fire Starter"; and the electro-rave anthem "Dont You Worry" with Shakira and David Guetta, which channels the ineffable joy of "I Gotta Feeling." Nicky Jam returns for the throbbing "Get Down," just as Nicole Scherzinger adds another collaboration with the 90s techno-house "No One Loves Me." For sharp-eared listeners, "In The Air" offers a nostalgic thrill wherein the Peas sample their own "Boom Boom Pow," looping Fergies call-to-arms over a pulsing beat and urgent hand claps. While early fans may have decried the groups sharp turn into dance-friendly fluff in the 2000s, at this point in their careers, Black Eyed Peas have put forth more people-pleasing, internationally-appealing dance material than not. Elevation is yet another exciting dose of will.i.ams deviously catchy fare, designed to get the bodies moving and the hands in the air. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

前作でのラテン接近モードを残しつつ、今作で主なモチーフとなるのは90年代ダンス・ミュージックで、スキャットマン・ジョンをサンプリングしつつダディ・ヤンキーを迎えた"Bailar Contigo"の仕上がりが象徴的か。他曲も90年代ハウス風味が強めで、ゲッタとシャキーラを迎えたBEPらしいEDM歌謡な先行曲が逆に浮いて聴こえるほどだ。オージェイズの80sディスコを引用したボーイズ・ノイズ製の"Dance 4 U"なんて曲もグッド。
bounce (C)池谷瑛子