cmon3tta - cmon
An absolute rush on the senses, cmon3tta presents pure, unfiltered joy of togetherness with the wild, multifaceted musings of “cmon.” Layers are filtered together. Trance pop, EDM, rave-ups, hyper-pop, ‘80s throwbacks, electro dance, and so much more get brought into this singular package. No matter what, vocals rest right at the center of the approach. Cmon3tta’s love of a variety of singing styles results in a series of twists and turns that are impossible to predict. By keeping things so wonderfully up in the air, cmon3tta delves into a playful, powerful world that’s easy to lose oneself in. This, alongside a great ear for melody and groove, results in a highly distinctive approach. Sequencing works wonders, too, and the album works best when taken as a single whole, allowing the many parts to come together in this spirit of community.
The Blues, EDM, and pop blend to become one within the sonic slipstream. Aspects of this mix of dance and thoughtfulness touch upon some of Moby’s Play album. Similarly, there’s a way to bridge the gap between the ancient and the hypermodern, refusing to be pigeonholed into either. Instead, it exists in a third place, simply as the past filtered through the present. Cheerier moments attest to the rock-meets-dancefloor aesthetics of Justice. Framing the four-to-the-floor alongside some solid, rock-adjacent riffs gives the album a physicality that feels visceral, even alive. A mix of retro stylings from the ‘80s and ‘90s blends to form a style reminiscent of Neon Indian’s poppiest performances, and the lyrics have a similar postmodern vibe. With all these touchstones and reference points blending multiple decades, cmon3tta delves into a beautiful, serene sonic universe of its own making that is truly unique.
Love of the dancefloor is felt throughout the journey. He began this journey early too, all the way back in 2004 with his giddy single debut “00hlala!.” Then, for two decades, quiet. Chiptune high-energy pours out of 2024’s A.K.A.: The 3P. While this collection has a much more experimental flair than the straightforward pop he’d explore later, it still possesses an infectious, psychedelic energy. Vocals are prominently placed, and the beats hit with a distinctive, physical edge that is doubly refreshing. “BHIND THE CNZ: EP” moves that experimentation and pop accessibility together. A wild approach to dance music, the treated vocals alongside the lopsided melodies give it a childlike sense of wonder. Really, all of it works as it swirls up in bright, brilliant colors. Moments of it feel nearly kaleidoscopic in this well-executed demeanor. His indie pop roots come out fully for the less electronic, much more organic style on “Becuz of You: EP,” where the tracks radiate a warm, welcoming presence. Capturing the ways of the warehouse dancefloor are the pulsing grooves of “Feel So Free: EP,” where cmon3tta updates LFO’s classic style into the contemporary age, allowing a degree of thoughtfulness and adrenaline to coexist. Going for a bright, optimistic tinge is the pure rush of “Hot Coco: cm13s: EP.”
All of this, of course, led to the current kaleidoscopic array that is “cmon.” Their latest release has them neatly touch upon everything that led up to this moment. With minimalist album art and an orange hue evoking early Warp Records aesthetics, it conveys a sense of infinite hope. EDM with soul, cmon3tta pours himself into every arrangement, enhancing the immediate accessibility of what is in store for the listener and making it a fully fleshed-out, realized experience.
Starting things off strong is the tasteful opener “It Don’t Matter None,” in which elements of previous sonic eras filter into the mix. Vocals go for a mood reminiscent of The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas, with a similar emotional resonance in the delivery, even amid the production. On a more tropical kick is the sun-drenched quality of “Away For Daze.” “Hot Coco feat. Miss Coco Peru” kicks things off hot, as the arpeggios have this sweeping intensity. Hyperpop influences weave throughout the tightly packed punches of “XOS.” Tempos are rolled back a bit for a more cinematic scope on the film-oriented “Becuz of You” featuring some great pointillist energy. Chilled-out room energy gives a bit of a break with the softer, jazzier cadence of “Ryan (SoNLuv Remix).”
Going for the earlier moments in the project is the throwback to “00hlala!”, with a muscular groove and a driving atmosphere. Nice chiptune qualities give “90s Kid Anthem feat. Jungle Gem” a nostalgic feel, allowing for a certain tongue-in-cheek humor that taps into that decade’s carefree spirit. “FALLING” opts for a trance-pop demeanor, presenting another view of the 90s when this specific sound dominated the airwaves. Silly and sweet, “The Story of Who I Am” has a passionate quality that is doubly refreshing, looking back at the earlier moments in life, allowing it a personal narrative that makes it quite approachable. Much more pop-centric is the romantic yearning of “247365.” A sheer force of nature, “I Love The Way You Do What You Do” accelerates to a breakneck pace, holding nothing back.
“UNC” taps into LCD Soundsystem’s “I’m Losing My Edge,” as the verses reflect on aging out of coolness while watching those exact styles make a comeback. As something of an UNC myself, I can say this one hits close to home. An 80s retro flair emerges with the vocoder-treated “UNC (c. 1985 cCodR Remix).” Multiple angles are brought into the mix with the hysterical “My Self-Referential Sh1t (Bonus Track)” as there’s a distinctive early Max Tundra hyper-saturated splendor. Bass has a flexibility with the sweetness of “98.6 Degrees (Raw Edit) (Bonus Track).” Gleefully unexpected is the country-oriented remix of “98.6 (c33haw! Remix) (Bonus Track).” Incredible hooks give “checkm8 (Bonus Track)” a swinging spirit. Ending things with pure grandeur, “checkm8 (Count of Monte Chr1sbro Remix)” features strong classical elements throughout.
Done with a careful mix of thoughtfulness and decadence, cmon3tta proves the deeper thoughts behind dance-pop on “cmon.”