I definitely needed a few days to let all this new music simmer. After gathering my thoughts I came to the following foregone conclusion… The Electro War is definitely not over!

This is good news for us since we made a documentary film chronicling the rise of “Blog-House” to the mainstream in America. Acts like Mstrkrft and Justice were merely an after-thought in a world now run by grimey Dubstep producers, and artists like Skrillex (completely changing the EDM game). This week we were treated to new singles from who we can now call the “iconic” Mstrkrft and Justice.

Let’s break it down…

Justice – Civilization

I guess we can attribute Justice’s tactical leave of absence to Pedro Winter (Busy P)- the duo’s manager, who also use to manage Daft Punk. He is a veteran in the EDM game, who knows very well the power of building hype and proper anticipation. Justice has been absent from the EDM game for four years now… a move that can either make you or break you in the music industry. Daft Punk has built an entire legacy using this technique and it’s work fine for them.

It’s instinctual to miss something you love, whether it be a person or a habit… music in essence, can be described as both. A lot of people turn to music as a confidant when times get rough. Some people use it to feed visceral addictions. Legions of fans fell in love with the Parisian duo and then they were subsequently abandoned.

There’s a sense of ownership when a band (or in this case two ingenious French producers) usher in an entire subculture, where it was cool to once again dawn a leather jacket, post Jame’s Dean era, smoke cigarettes, look like you haven’t bathed in a month, and to simply have fun with music and DJ’ng in general. When you leave a legacy like that behind, there’s a lot of pressure being mounted. Your return becomes that much more anticipated.

Justice’s debut album “Genesis” set the benchmark for contemporary Electro albums and now they have returned with their first epically titled single, “Civilization”. The release coincides with an Adidas ad campaign, shot by frequent collaborator, Romain Gavras. The official release for the track is April 4th. If the single is a precursor for things to come, it would seem as if Justice effortlessly picked up where they left off, not veering far from their original sound, which made them popular… proving the age old adage… “if it aint broke, why fix it?”

MSTRKFT – Beards Again
MSTRKRFT – “Beards Again”

I Wish I could say the same about Mstrkrft. Two Canadian DJ’s that were infusing punk rock energy with Disco Electro. People do have a tendency to romanticize the past and criticize, and there are others who learn to accept change and escape conformity. I’m definitely not the former. I’m all about accepting change and realizing that everything in society must evolve in order to progress. However, this mindset gets tricky when it comes to music.

Mstrkrft has been criticized before for straying too far from their original sound, especially with their sophomore “Fist of God”. I stood by them and accepted the fact that their sound was changing, but this new single just isn’t doing it for me. The EDM landscape has changed significantly and in order to ensure dominance, and most important – relevancy. In this vastly changing landscape, you have to know when to experiment with your sound. “Beards Again” has little resonance with me.

In fairness, however, I refuse to pass judgment on the EP, until it’s actually released, but the first single is usually a foundation of the groundwork ahead. I applaud their efforts though and look forward to what’s in store.

Related Posts:

• Justice – Audio Video Disco
• Death From Above 1979 Reunited at Coachella
• Why is Daft Punk not in the Electro Wars documentary?