Future Perfect (Loadstar album)

Future Perfect
Studio album by Loadstar
Released 26 May 2013
Recorded 201013[1]
Genre
Label RAM Records
Producer
Singles from Future Perfect
  1. "Black & White"
    Released: 9 December 2012
  2. "Refuse to Love"
    Released: 21 April 2013
Future Perfect (Remixes)
Remix album by Loadstar
Released 15 December 2013
Recorded 2013
Genre
Label RAM Records
Producer
Loadstar chronology

Future Perfect
(2013)
Future Perfect (Remixes)
(2013)

Future Perfect is the debut studio album by British production duo Loadstar. The album was released on 26 May 2013 through RAM Records.[3] Loadstar appeared on DJ Target and MistaJam's BBC Radio 1Xtra shows to promote the album.[4][5] They also hosted an Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1.[6] The album charted at number 168 on the UK Albums Chart and also on the dance and indie charts.

Background and recording

Some of the initial ideas for album tracks, such as "Eat My Tears", were created as early as 2010. "Losing You" was another of the first to be produced. The duo produced probably "over 100 tracks" since the album concept came about, but only a few made the final cut.[1] In May 2012, the album was considered "finished" and due for October 2012 release, but the release was pushed forward to May 2013 after more tracks were produced for it.[7] Speaking about the album, Nick said the following:

“We’ve had time to really go deep into our ideas and fine tune how we wanted to present the album. It’s about finding the balance between the dancefloor D&B that people know us for and trying to show a different side to us like our deeper material, the dubstep stuff, even hip-hop influences. That’s why it’s taken so long to get it right. Loadstar has been a journey of discovery for us. We were getting associated with our old sound for a long time, Loadstar, and notably this album, is a new beginning. That’s why it couldn’t be ‘D&B bangers album with nothing in between’ album. There’s more to albums than that, and there’s more to us than that, too…”

The Future Perfect remix album was released on 15 December 2013.[8][9] Loadstar hosted a remix contest for the track "Dr. Karg", choosing Λlity and Abstr4ct as the winners whose remixes feature on the release. They also produced a VIP mix of "Losing You" featuring Jenn D to appear on the release alongside the winners and three RAM Records artists. Loadstar have also created a VIP mix of "Warrior" featuring Jakes, which features on the Andy C compilation Nightlife 6.

Writing and composition

Influences and themes

The duo were influenced by the breakbeats on The Chemical Brothers' album Exit Planet Dust, as well as Dillinja's album Cybotron which inspired Nick's melodic touches and Gavin's technical skills. Nick was majorly influenced by Leftfield's album Leftism, and it played a key part in his love for dance music.[1]

The album title Future Perfect originated from a demo song they wrote, which ended up not making it onto the album, and was also inspired by its grammatical sense. The duo "just wanted it to be an artist album, a piece of work that summed us up as a collective, and a complete project and that had all our styles and influences in there."[10]

Singles

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
The Guardian [16]
Drum and Bass Arena (favourable)[1]
Data Transmission (favourable)[10]
The Frontliner (favourable)[17]
RWD Magazine [18]
DJ Mag Canada 8/10[19]

The album received mixed to positive reviews from critics, but failed to chart despite a TV ad campaign.[18] However, the album received positive reviews from renowned dance music blogs Mixmag and DJ Mag.[19] Mixmag said "the duo primed for D&B domination" and that the album "adeptly works the line between stadium anthems and underground bangers".[20] RWD Magazine credited the album as "fusing perfectly the intensity of D&B". DJ Mag Canada gave the album 8/10 and said the album is "15 tracks of summer blockbuster dramatics and air punching energy".[18] They also said the following:

"In a release with fifteen tracks, we can’t expect one anthem after another, with the occurrence of such albums being rare. What we do get from this particular LP is a variety of tracks which have already been dominating mixes and live sets for weeks and will continue to do so through the future. What we also get from Future Perfect are tracks that are going to provide a foundation for both themselves and other producers to develop their sound while inspiring continued growth and the blurring of boundaries."

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "Do You Feel Me" (featuring Scrufizzer) 2:33
2. "Refuse to Love" (featuring Takura) 4:12
3. "Warrior" (featuring Jakes) 3:50
4. "Be There"   3:58
5. "Black & White" (featuring Benny Banks) 3:15
6. "Scorpio"   4:11
7. "Don't Wanna Be Alone"   4:13
8. "Losing You" (featuring Jenn D) 4:30
9. "Boa" (featuring Hadouken!) 3:44
10. "Sliders" (featuring Meleka) 3:05
11. "Eat My Tears"   4:49
12. "Drowning"   4:52
13. "Give It To Me"   4:10
14. "Memories"   4:28
15. "Distance" (featuring Lloyd Yates) 4:03
Notes

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[21] 168
UK Dance Albums (OCC)[22] 18
UK Indie Albums (OCC)[23] 30
UK Indie Breakers (OCC)[24] 7

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Worldwide 26 May 2013 CD, digital download RAM Records

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "The Art Of The Album: Loadstar". Drum and Bass Arena. 2013-06-03.
  2. "Future Perfect (RAM Records) :: Beatport". Beatport. 2013-05-26.
  3. "iTunes - Music - Future Perfect by Loadstar". iTunes. 2013-05-26.
  4. "BBC Radio 1Xtra - DJ Target, Special Guest - Loadstar". BBC Radio 1Xtra. 2013-05-17.
  5. "BBC Radio 1Xtra - MistaJam, Loadstar Behind the Beats, Loadstar- Guest Mix". BBC Radio 1Xtra. 2013-05-04.
  6. "BBC Radio 1 - BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix, Loadstar". BBC Radio 1. 2013-07-13.
  7. "Loadstar - DMC World Network". DMC World. March 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-07.
  8. "Loadstar - Future Perfect Remixes". The Bass Collective. 2013-12-02.
  9. "Loadstar". Facebook. 2013-08-22.
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Loadstar: The future's bright, the future's perfect". Data Transmission. 2013-07-19.
  11. "Loadstar - Black & White (Ft. Benny Banks) (Official Video) - YouTube". YouTube. 2012-11-21.
  12. "iTunes - Music - Black & White (Remixes) by Loadstar". iTunes. 2012-12-09.
  13. "Loadstar - Refuse To Love (Official Video) - YouTube". YouTube. 2013-03-22.
  14. "Loadstar - Future Perfect (Vinyl)". Discogs.
  15. "Loadstar - Warrior (BBC Radio 1 Zane Lowe Hottest Record) by Loadstar on SoundCloud". SoundCloud. 2013-05-30.
  16. "Loadstar: Future Perfect - review". The Guardian. 2013-05-23.
  17. "Loadstar - Future Perfect (Release)". The Frontliner. 2013-05-29.
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 "Loadstar - Future Perfect (Official TV Ad)". YouTube. 2013-05-15.
  19. 19.0 19.1 "DJ Mag Canada Beta - Loadstar - Future Perfect LP". DJ Mag Canada. 2013-05-28.
  20. "Mixmag - KEEP AN EYE ON". Mixmag. 2013-06-17.
  21. "Loadstar | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
  22. "2013 Top 40 Dance Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 8 June 2013.
  23. "2013 Top 40 Indie Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 8 June 2013.
  24. "2013 Top 40 Independent Albums Breakers Archive". Official Charts Company. 2013-06-08.