As if releasing one of the summer's most hotly anticipated LPs wasn't enough Major Lazer, featuring Diplo alongside Jillionaire and Walshy Fire, have recently unveiled their plans to release yet another album before the year is out. However, 'Peace Is The Mission' – the first of those two albums – is already looking to take over the summer.
Fans have already been exposed to lead single 'Lean On', boasting vocals from MØ as well as a deadly infectious chorus. Elsewhere, 'Peace Is The Mission' is packed with exciting collaborations, beginning with a subtle introduction ('Be Together') that features Wild Belle, perhaps the most unflustered song from an album that delves deeply into a colourful combination of bombastic cuts, sending the listener on a journey through the outfit's reggae and dancehall influences.
This signature sound is most notably conveyed through 'Blaze Up The Fire', 'Too Original' and 'Roll The Bass' – the latter of which is the album's only non-collaborative recording, and all three look set to reign over the dance tents through this year's festival season. Meanwhile 'Powerful', with its high-profile input from Ellie Goulding is possibly the most radio-friendly, but it's 'Night Riders' with vocal contributions from Travi$ Scott, 2 Chainz, Pusha T and Mad Cobra that's a real highlight, having originally been scheduled to debut on Major Lazer's FXX Animated TV show.
Finishing off with a Machel Montano-ed rework of Ariana Grande's 'All My Love', and clocking in at just 33 minutes in total, the album does feel a little more polished than the collective's previous recordings, yet still displays everything that we've already come to expect from Major Lazer. There's nothing completely new here, but fans are sure to be satisfied, at the very least, until the collective's next album arrives.
7/10
Words: Jonathan Hatchman
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