French house icons, Hubert Blanc-Francard, and the late Philippe Zdar, known to fans as Cassius, have released their fifth and final album in Dreems. The LP features heavy-hitters from across the musical spectrum like Portugal. the Man’s John Gourle and Mike D of Beastie Boys infamy, but ultimately represents more than two decades of musical growth since Cassius’s first releases in 1996.

Dreems isn’t just an hour of new Cassius material, which would be a delight in itself, but it’s an album where songs successfully build on one another, borrowing melodies, instruments and vocal motifs throughout, proving the duo’s attraction to the art of the LP. The album’s most vivid example of this is in how “W18” thematically and musically unfolds into its successor, “Walking on Sunshine.” Other track like “Summer,” the album’s opener, and “Don’t Let Me Be” draw a more refined and generally upbeat picture than 2016’s Ibifornia, while still maintaining much of the latter’s highly-acclaimed funk.

With Dreems being the group’s final release, it’s hard to find a more apt farewell than in the lyrics of the album’s title track.

Never before I had someone like you right by my side
Never before I had someone
Never before I had someone like you right by my side
Never before I had someone

Tags: Beastie Boys, Cassius, portugal the man

Categories: Music