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This year has been very much in Example’s favour. Having being recognised by many as the hottest talents of 2011 and with his first No.1 under his belt for 'Changed The Way You Kissed Me', the momentum shift is now again moving up a gear for his much awaited album 'Playing in the Shadows'.
For his latest creation; Example has worked with the very best in the dance industry and a good variety of producing talents, for Example’s fan base stretches from not just mainstream pop fans, but also his keen followers in the House and Dubstep world. And 'Playing in the Shadows' has a dish best served to make all of them happy, but. For fans who want an album full of songs alike to 'Changed The Way You Kissed Me' will find themselves very disappointed, as 'Playing in the Shadows' is full of the best vibrant diversity that only Example can deliver.
'Skies don’t Lie'’s has an incredibly catchy background bass, its a great album starter and the lyrics displayed by Example are more than just your average storytelling, its deep and personal to him and more than that, its intelligent thinking to the times of the present which makes him such a bright star, and a worthy candidate to showcase the bright future of British music.
'Stay Awake' is the latest taster for 'Playing in the Shadows' produced by British dubstep heroes Nero and this blend of the two artists is displayed brilliantly, as its sound has the distinct floor thumping chorus that Example’s brings with the added precision that Nero make all too easy.
'Changed the way you kissed Me' is obviously one of the album’s biggest hits; it’s one of this year's best dance floor fillers and deservedly gave Example his first chart topper, the catchy intro is still one of the best going around in current music and for it to beat Coldplay’s effort easily in the singles charts with their mass following is really showing something.
'The Way' isn’t as heavy in your face as the previous songs display, but with its brilliantly produced track layout by the legendary Faithless its simply flawless and its still a great number to brag about.
'Natural Disaster' will have Example’s house fans wetting their appetites over; it delivers exactly what a house tune should do on the tin and more. It features a great build-up and chorus drop and with the great mixture of rapping and singing blending it at just the right moments, its one of the albums best hits.
Title track 'Playing in the Shadows' showcases the albums diversity better than any track of the album, it blends acoustic strums mixed with dirty bass beats and synth parts all moved into place at just the right moments and with a song having so many different elements together and given Examples diverse fan base it shall be very interesting to see its reception.
'Midnight Run' brings us back on track with the Example sound that we are most fond of him for, with some brilliant catchy synth mixes and brings the albums pace up to lead us into the superb following track 'Under the Influence', this track is probably one of the favourites for Example’s dubstep followers as its softly sounding intro and midtrack parts with a crushing heavy bassline chorus is definitely one to appease a keen dubstep listener.
If you are lucky to get your hands on the bonus edition of 'Playing in the Shadows' you will have two gems of 'Lying to Yourself' which is a brilliant piano driven composition and the amazing viral internet hit track collaboration with dubstep legend Skream on 'Shot yourself in the foot Again'
Example is the crown jewel in the British music scene and Playing in the Shadows is the best possible statement to back it up, the variety of songs is a great display of the talent that he possesses, each song on the album has its own strong point housing such a range of song styles, every type of Example fan will be satisfied. With such a great work like this accomplished the real question is.
Is the best still yet to come?
