Funk Wav Bounces, Vol. 1 in Bloomington, MN

Calvin Harris
managed to find a way to distill the sounds of summer into a near-perfect spirit on his fifth effort,
Funk Wav Bounces, Vol. 1
. Assembling an all-star roster of performers for an economic ten-track burst that doesn't overstay its welcome, the Scotsman made a surprising turn away from the EDM anthems that defined much of his output for the bulk of a decade. Much like
Daft Punk
's throwback
Random Access Memories
,
Bounces
is a satisfying dose of futuristic nostalgia performed mostly on live instruments by
Harris
. Joining him are nearly two-dozen high-profile guests from the worlds of rap, R&B, and pop, joining forces on team efforts that sound like the soundtrack to the coolest beach party to which you weren't famous enough to be invited.
ScHoolboy Q
PartyNextDoor
, and the ever-endearing
D.R.A.M.
unite for the elastic "Cash Out," while
Snoop Dogg
John Legend
, and
Migos
'
Takeoff
smooth things out on the sexy "Holiday."
Future
and
Khalid
collide on the gorgeous "Rollin," and
Kehlani
shines with
Lil Yachty
on "Faking It."
Ariana Grande
steals the show on the effervescent "Heatstroke," despite
Pharrell Williams
Young Thug
's best efforts.
Williams
returns with
Katy Perry
Big Sean
for "Feels," an island getaway that transports listeners on its funky groove. Above all stands the indomitable "Slide," an instant classic featuring
Frank Ocean
and two-thirds of
, with
Offset
outshining
Quavo
by a margin. Even less immediate contributions by
Travis Scott
A-Trak
("Prayers Up"),
Nicki Minaj
("Skrt on Me"), and
Jessie Reyez
("Hard to Love") keep the festivities afloat.
Funk Wav Bounces
impresses not just with the marquee names, but with how effortless, communal, and fun
makes it all feel. ~ Neil Z. Yeung