18 MonthsColumbia ***
Calvin Harris has become big box-office of late on the back of choice, super-sized collaborations with Rihanna (We Found Love), Florence Welch (Sweet Nothing) and Kelis (Bounce). All three of these chart-busting tracks appear on the Scottish DJ and producer’s third album, alongside a slew of others destined to become hands-in-the-air, barmy, screamy pop anthems in time.
What's fascinating about Harris is that he has always had a penchant for great pop details,so it's telling that the weaker moments here are when he attempts to mint harder, more aggressive tracks and follows the EDM crowd. There's a sense that Harris has overplayed his formula when it comes to smash hits (vocalist plus synthy house beeps equals tune). But as this formula has become such a hugely lucrative one, it remains to be seen if he has the will and the means to rip it up and start again. calvinharris.co.uk
Download tracks:Sweet Nothing, We Found Love