Having scored numerous hits since 2005 with his own tracks and remixes for others -- both legit and bootleg -- progressive house producer Eric Prydz still had a big hole in his discography; that all important debut album. Finally landing in 2012, Pryda looks excessive if you stumble across the three-disc version, but those extra two discs should be seen as a career-spanning bonus -- mixing Prydz hits into two killer sets -- and while it's a celebration for newcomers and fans alike, the longtime prog-house addict should direct their attention to the impeccably built first disc. It's here that Prydz shows his "headphone" side, crafting tracks that allow for more freedom than the usual four-on-the-floor stomp. Take the mystical rhythms of "Javlar," which transition from the classic tribal house sound to an electro finish, or the robotic "Sunburst," which launches with a "Blue Monday" sample before becoming a possible Kraftwerk tribute. The feeling of drifting in deep space is all over this first disc, and it flows like any true album should, including the possible hits Prydz can add to the stack, like the Alan Parsons Project-sampling opener "Shadows" and the almost-trance "You," which hypnotizes with circular sequencers and whispered vocals. The one-disc version of Pryda is the right combination of familiar and surprising, but that three-disc version is just too enticing to ignore, and if your pocket is deep enough, so are the vibes.
© David Jeffries /TiVo