Fire & Ice is the sort of album that makes you wonder why you have not been paying closer attention to Kaskade all of your life. Ryan Raddon (Kaskade) has been making dance music since the nineties, but he is relatively less known compared against his peers in the DJ community. The main reason being that he is not nearly as adventurous as those same people—but, it is for that exact reason that he shines. With Fire & Ice, Kaskade has a created an album that sings the praises of a refined, calculated approach to creating dance tracks. Fire & Ice is immaculate to say the least, and even with the amount of different styles present on the album it sounds flawlessly executed.

Fire & Ice is a double-disc collection with one disc being the “Fire” tracks (which are more upbeat and loud) and the “Ice” disc which is ostensibly more relaxed and chill (pun intended). Unsurprisingly, Kaskade makes heavy use of guest artists on this album including the recent juggernaut Skrillex, as well as his more usual use of female singers such as Rebbeca & Fiona. These guest appearances work incredibly well for Kaskade’s style of emotion-filled House and give the album that sonic diversity that helps the album feel fresh. Tracks like “Room for Happiness” with Skylar Grey and “Waste Love” with Quadron are mesmerizing in their depth and beauty, and Kaskade does a great job of accompanying their spirited vocals with well-tailored synths and buzz.

In Fire & Ice Kaskade is true to the roots of House music and the album is ever reminiscent of that. The album may not have the buzz and anger of current electro, but it is by far his most realized and diverse album to date. With Fire & Ice he has created an album that lingers in your mind well after the last time you listened to it.

8/10

By: Adam Martin

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