This is a serious contender for album of the year, for those who enjoy emotion and power.
Sometimes the world of Dance music surprises us, for the good. Such has been the case this year with some of the most feeling-charged, intense albums we’ve had in a while. I’m talking about Above & Beyond’s Bigger Than All Of Us, Solarstone’s innermost, and Nicholas Gunn’s 30. So the only question I had was, “How can this year top itself?“. Enter BiXX, and his genuinely spectacular album, The Voice Of Reason.
We had spoken to this good man back at the start of the year, regarding the release of ‘Believe In Me’, a staggeringly powerful collaboration alongside one of the most iconic voices in Electronic music, Susana (in fact, she was also present in the interview). And during that incredible chat, which I strongly encourage you to check out, he talked about how the concept of this album was born:
I was talking to a friend of mine about two and a half years ago who I worked with for social media, Jimmy (…), and I kept saying to him that I try to be that voice of reason, that calm person that can advise people when they’re having a very stressful time or struggles and to give good advice just based on past experiences, (…). So he said, why don’t you do an album and call it Voice Of Reason? You keep talking about being that voice of reason. And then I called RAM, one of my mentors, advisors. “What do you think about me doing albums?“, “Oh, that’s a terrible idea“. And so when he said that, I decided I was going to do an album. [laughs]-BiXX, on our exclusive interview with him and Susana.
And, to be honest, I lost track of time and somewhat forgot about the upcoming album, until it dropped and I gave it a listen. Holy. Moly. In hindsight, I should’ve had tissues nearby, because the melodic complexity of this album as a whole blew me out of the water.
The Voice Of Reason
This is one of those works of art that will leave a lasting legacy. Even though this album is Bob’s first, that doesn’t mean he’s a rookie. On the absolute contrary, after a life dedicated to running businesses, his music interest from his college years came back to him, and he learnt from the best how to do things the right way. That motto of exceeding expectations and leaving a legacy he can be proud of is very evident throughout the album.
And it’s not a short album either. Across 17 tracks, BiXX is determined to show his sound and colours in pure, nude form. The emotions and feelings are the core of this album. Strip the songs of their rhythmic percussive elements and strong bases, and what are you left with? Pure emotion. In fact, a handful of tracks in the album are acoustic reimaginations of Electronic pieces previously present in the album’s roster, to further drive that point home.
Writer’s Picks
Look, I was expecting to have a fun time when I first hit play, going blindly into the album as I always do. What I didn’t expect by any means was that I’d end up crying with it. The emotional charge of the entire journey is really heavy, in the best way possible. It’s been one of the most pleasant experiences I’ve had this year, I love it when the music is so damn good that it makes you shed a couple tears. It speaks volumes about the song, and also teaches me something about myself.
That said, the tracks that truly made a difference in me were, in third place, ‘Fingerprints’, an incredibly moving instrumental piece with a choir hook, the excellent ‘Believe In Me’ taking the silver with its pure Uplifting goodness alongside Susana’s heavenly voice, and in first place, ‘Your Time Will Come’, with Cari’s delicate voice lullabying you to the point of tears, and encouraging you not to give up. I connected so strongly to this particular track, I don’t remember weeping by surprise any other time. Definitely recommend. Then, lucky for me, there are acoustic versions of my Top 2, so I can relive the feelings from a new angle.
BiXX — The Voice Of Reason Tracklist
- The Voice Of Reason (Album Mix)
- Glass Ceiling (Album Mix) featuring That Girl
- Sense Of Urgency (Album Mix)
- Karma’s Comin’ For Ya (Album Mix)
- Beauty Within (Album Mix) featuring Natalie Gioia
- Moment Of Truth (Album Mix)
- Believe In Me (Album Mix) with Susana
- The Road Less Travelled (Album Mix)
- BiXX (Album Mix) featuring JSKA
- Your Time Will Come (Sunrise Album Mix) featuring Cari
- Beauty Within (Paul Skelton & BiXX Acoustic Album Version) featuring Natalie Giola
- Fingerprints (Album Mix)
- Appreciation (Album Mix)
- Master The Mind (Album Mix)
- Inner Sanctum (Album Mix)
- Believe In Me (Paul Skelton & BiXX Acoustic Album Version) with Susana
- Your Time Will Come (Paul Skelton & BiXX Acoustic Album Version) featuring Cari
Final Words
I’d love to give a more unbiased review, but I can’t this time. The amount of feelings that I experienced in an hour and change of my life, all thanks to the mind and heart of geniuses like Bob and company, is admirable, worthy of applause. There’s music that’s so well made it feels like a work of art more than the result of surgical decisions in the studio. I love it when music can transport you to different places, and Yhe Voice Of Reason has done precisely that for me.
Listen to BiXX‘s breathtaking brand-new album, The Voice Of Reason, by hitting the ‘Play‘ button on the Spotify player below. Also, click here to support the release on your platform of choice. Be sure to follow our page to stay up to date on the latest news and views regarding our beloved Dance music industry.