(ThisIsFakediy.co.uk) When Major Lazer made their entrance in 2009 with 'Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do', Diplo and Switch were unknown quantities to the majority of those the album reached. But to followers of the EDM and house scenes, the prospect of two of the biggest producers in the game getting together for an LP was tantalising.
Switch's consistent hand in the early days of what-would-commonly-become-known-as fidget with tracks like 'Get Ya Dub On' and 'A Bit Patchy' made him a household name, well, in the right circles. At the same time, Diplo was becoming synonymous with his trademark blend of ludicrous and brilliant originals ('Smash A Kangaroo', anyone?) and infectious remixes (his remix of 'Bingo Players', a good start), oh, and his ridiculously hip label, Mad Decent, too of course. Long story short, nobody knew quite what to expect from Major Lazer, but those in the know expected something special.
And it was. Sort of. To some people. But maybe not those in the aforementioned 'know'. The debut album rode, and was partly responsible for, the crest of the rising wave of house and electro becoming accessible to the populace. There was barely a club in Britain, nay, the world, which did not blast out 'Pon de Floor' at some point. The mainstream embraced Major Lazer as newcomers, potentially helped by Beyoncé's penchant for that track (she used it for a snazzy version of 'Run The World'), Blackberry employed Diplo to...