Justice
Cross

Highly anticipated, the first LP by Justice, a French electro-dance duo currently riding the wave, finally arrives in Italy (but after already reaching the rest of the world!). The two guys (Xavier De Rosnay and Gaspard Augé), in addition to the already released dancefloor hits like "Let there be light" or "Waters of Nazareth", have added the hit "D.A.N.C.E.", and nine new tracks. The whole thing is very disco-oriented, don't worry...

As soon as you put the disc in the player, you get the impression of having entered a super cool French nightclub, surrounded by scantily clad girls that make your jaw drop. And it's in this place that I will analyze the album...

It starts with "Genesis", an epic beginning (trumpet calls and drumbeats) that gives way to a very elaborate base, repeatedly paused, restarted, and chopped. It's to start dancing, with the dancefloor still semi-empty.
The second track, linked to the first, is "Let there be light", an old acquaintance of nightclub-goers (the more avant-garde ones, at least). It's the right piece to unleash yourself, with the typical beat of the two French DJs—four relentless four-on-the-floor beats spiced up with a heavy and endlessly repetitive hi-hat. But irresistible.
After the dance frenzy, you return to the sofas, and here's "D.A.N.C.E.", the first non-instrumental track, where a group of children sings over a calm, almost funky base. To catch your breath. It's the hit of the album, the one that probably prompted you to buy it, after all...
"New Jack" can easily be mistaken for a song by Daft Punk, made up of various musical samples mixed together. There's not much to say about this track, you either like it or you don't: it doesn't drive me crazy, but to get back up from the aforementioned sofa and return to the dancefloor, it's more than fine!
"Phantom" and "Phantom pt.II" are two bombs, there's not much you can do about it. Four-on-the-floor beat, nasty bass, and distorted synth. Isn't this happiness?

When you think you've heard it all, the DJ plays "Valentine". As the title suggests, it seems like a love song, nice and calm, with a typically French melody, it reminds me of Serge Gainsbourg... For flirting, of course!
"The party" features Uffie, another new electronic phenomenon on the French scene. A girl who made a song called "Ready to fuck," what could it be about? A party where you get drunk, make a mess and... well... screw! Paradoxically, however, the song is minimal and cheerful. Passable.
"DVNO", another song interchangeable with Daft Punk, is a dance track but very pop, with a vocalist reminiscent of Modjo... Here, perhaps it's more relatable to Modjo than Daft Punk! (for those who don't remember, Modjo is the band behind "Lady, hear me tonight"... yes, yes, you've heard it).

After three relatively calm songs, the stage is set for the grand finale. Drink the last drink and hit the dancefloor, the best is coming now! "Stress", very powerful, opens with frantic violins. Fast-paced with sirens, screams, whistles, and an almost "baroque" finale that heralds the bomb...
And the bomb comes, it took its time but arrives: when everything seems to have calmed down, "Waters of Nazareth" starts. A slap in the face, you start jumping like everyone else and don't understand anything anymore, throw your drink in the air, sweat. A sparse base but enhanced by a distorted and very loud synth that shakes the club walls. Suddenly you realize why you came to the club and didn't stay home watching "I Cesaroni". And the money spent at the entrance was probably among the best-spent of the last week, last month, last year.

Exhausted, you go to catch some air. And you hear the final track, "One minute to midnight", in the distance, calm and imposing at the same time. Ok, this was written by Daft Punk and sold to Justice, it's too much in their style...
The four-on-the-floor beats end, the ears hurt a bit. "Gentlemen, the disco is closing," and now it's time for breakfast at some early-morning bar.

In conclusion, "Cross" is a beautiful album, full of good (new) ideas that will surely make you dance. But it was made for this very purpose, and there is a bit of general repetitiveness for those who listen to it, precisely, for the sole pleasure of listening to it.

But for cutting loose, at the moment, it's the best album you can buy.