Calvin Harris became one of EDM-pop's most successful architects with
18 Months, which fused the dance style's drops and fizzy highs with radio-friendly hooks. He doubles down on that approach on
Motion, which features even more stylized songs and cameos from A-list singers. However, the album's finest moment belongs to
Harris alone: on the former hit single "Summer," he uses EDM's dramatic peaks and valleys to convey the fleeting high of a summer fling, while the craggy warmth of his voice -- the last remnant of his more idiosyncratic electro-indie days -- adds some much-needed humanity and personality. Elsewhere,
Motion lives and dies on the strength of
Harris' collaborators. As on
18 Months, which was anchored by mega-hit partnerships with
Rihanna ("We Found Love") and
Ellie Goulding ("I Need Your Love"), many of this album's highlights feature female vocalists.
Harris' reunion with
Goulding, "Outside," doesn't quite recapture the magic of their previous work but does make the most of her deceptively powerful soprano, this time in a more upbeat setting. Likewise, "Pray to God" showcases
HAIM's fetish for mainstream '80s sounds, channeling
Stevie Nicks' "Edge of Seventeen" with its lavish harmonies, chugging guitars, and sizzling hi-hats, while "Together" dresses
Gwen Stefani's playful, confident pop in EDM drag. Moments like these prove that
Harris' formula doesn't have to be formulaic, but unfortunately they're few and far between. Despite, or perhaps because of, the many personalities involved, the album feels more than a little faceless.
John Newman even sounds a little like a more bombastic version of
Harris on "Blame," while "Open Wide" capitalizes on
Big Sean's put-upon lothario persona but ultimately fizzles.
Motion's instrumentals also suggest that
Harris' machine might be a little too well-oiled; tracks such as "Overdrive" and "Burnin'" are so quintessentially EDM that they're almost parodic. At best, they sound like they're waiting for vocals to complete them, and at worst, their buildups and breakdowns are so predictable listeners could set their watches to them. Despite a few bright moments,
Motion is disappointingly bland -- especially since
Harris has made plenty of memorable electro-pop before and after his EDM makeover. [
Motion was also released in a clean version.] ~ Heather Phares