Calvin Harris - 'I Created Disco' (Columbia) Released 18/06/07

Currently working with Kylie Minogue on her new album and with the success of his debut single ‘Acceptable In The 80’s’ recently reaching number 10 in the UK singles chart, Calvin Harris is having a very good 2007 and it’s about to get a lot better for the 23 year old Scotsman with the imminent release of his debut album ‘I Created Disco’. It’s a big claim to make, but sit back, turn the volume knob up a notch or two, close your eyes and you could almost believe him. Utilizing his debut single as the opening track, ‘Acceptable In The 80’s’ is an addictive electro romp that outlines the shape of what’s to come and is as much a contemporary rhetorical question as it is an affirming edgy statement.

As undemanding and clear-cut in form as it is multifaceted and intricate in content the appeal is instantaneous and immediately sets Harris apart as an artist with many strings to his bow. And it just gets better and better. ‘Merry Making At My Place’ reaffirms a love of simplistic yet insistent and absorbing beats as well as a love of blurred nostalgia with stylistic modern edges; clever, subtle timing with uncomplicated irresistible wordplay reminiscent of a lesson in verb conjugation (“We’re merry making, All the stuff that you’ve been taking, All the stuff that I’ve been taking, All the stuff that we’ve been taking” ad to it a smooth, soulful, falsetto style and itsits incredibly well). Not only is it a forceful vocal but also one that exposes Harris as a singer and not a DIY electro recluse content to hide behind acquired technology.

‘Colours’ also displays a vociferous verbal dialogue and once again displays intelligence far beyond years of button pushing. The lyrics “Now it’s all very well stepping out in black and white” to a sample of Visage’s ‘Fade To Grey’ is one stop short of remarkable…so far so very good and we’re only three songs in. There is however a danger that the substance needed to sustain the magic will run out and with ‘This Is Industry’ sounding somewhat like an amalgamation of the opening two tracks (but still managing to up Mark Ronson’s ante) there is a real possibility that Harris has peaked too early. But a sure fired way to disprove the disbelievers is to up the stakes and cut to that tried and tested formula…sex. That’s right folks, ‘The Girls’ is all about…well…girls. And if you take the lyrics at face value, Calvin like’s girls and plenty of them. The more the better in fact and it would appear that he’s also not too fussy. In fact he’d probably take on the DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) but that’s beside the point.