From the new album Travellers, DJ WESTWOOD introduces a passion for storytelling and songwriting, with the catchy and imaginative Space Cowboy.
Featuring the ever-familiar electronic vocals of the modern recording realm, Space Cowboy stands tall on the strength of its instrumental build and the drop into what proves a beautiful and memorable chorus. That hook is key in raising the bar for the song, and indeed for raising the mood of the music.
There’s a contemplative tone to the whole track, but this intrigue and mystique resolves brilliantly as the brightness and excitement of the hook falls into place. There’s even a humble guitar solo lighting up the latter half.
DJ Westwood’s approach to songwriting continues to lead with idea and melody first, presenting a series of different production traits and styles across the likes of Up to the Limit, another high-energy anthem, and the piano-led to full-throttle sea-shanty that is Chasing the Sunset. For the latter, we enter a choir of male vocals that feel tribal and progressive-metal-like in their unity and force.
Versatility is a strength stylistically, but structurally there are clear threads of contemporary and methodical influence to the entire DJ Westwood catalogue. This quality seems to be left behind, however, as we approach the iconic and intense Shadows of a Broken Heart.
Suddenly we’re in an electronic house realm of high-tempos and gritty euphoric synths. The energy is up, but even so, that voice returns – unexpected and still in keeping with the structure; a thoughtful verse of minimal notes, then a massive shift to the passion and uplift of an EDM / hard-house chorus that’s explosive and catchy.
Contrast emerges once again as we welcome the piano-led ballad and intimacy of By your grave. Here the subject matter reaches out with poignant universal relevancy. Naturally one of the most memorable and impactful songs from the DJ Westwood catalogue
Then finally, to set in stone the producer’s diversity of style, Weekend Blackout leads with another EDM set-up and a fresh vocal character, for a story that’s again relatable for the youthful escapism of nights out. The melody and chord pattern is more melancholy than celebratory, but this is mildly resolved again as the chorus makes its shift.
The DJ Westwood repertoire is familiar and undoubtedly soaked in modern effects and details. There are plenty of earworms and anthems to seek out.
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