Passport Approved

Canadian music producer Mike Silver brings you twelve tracks of electronic dance music goodness with the release of Continent. Silver has taken the time to develop his own style (that’s evident on each of the numerous EPs he’s released) but on Continent, he takes the time to reinvent and fine-tune his technique.

With a bass drum kick and sparse keyboards, Continent welcomes you with a chill vibe on “Raining Patterns.” The inclusion of a fading piano that mimics the sound of rain later on gives the track its namesake. The next song picks the tempo up a bit on Fleetwood Mac cover “Big Love,” where Silver uses the same rhythmic drumming and catchy guitar licks as an invitation to shake your groove thing. The album cycles back and forth between slow jams with trance overtones and a dash of funk and more upbeat, Justice-inspired fist pumpers, but the rhythm is always heavy and there is always a want to move your feet. The album concludes with “Half Dreaming Reprise,” another aptly titled song that uses keyboard patterns and trance builds to create a very surreal vibe.

Providing an alternative to the in-your-face poppy club hits, Silver displays a milder form of dance music that soothes as well as grooves. Don’t expect to see this thought-provoking, downtempo dance in the jukebox anytime soon. It comes off a little esoteric and seems to be directed mainly at minimalist enthusiasts, as its entirely instrumental. The overall experience of Continent can only be described as the very definition of chill.