Tales Of Many Illusions

Narrative of Thee Blast Illusion is the first full-length LP from Felix Da Housecat since 2011. The charismatic Chicago DJ has been much beloved in the club scene and beyond for many years now. It’s safe to say he will please his fans with his most musical release yet.

Felix Da Housecat is a man who has been experimenting with new sides of electronic music since the ’80s. He has blended a mixture of obscure genres and somehow made them work in an effortless manner. His latest stands out from the pack due to how much of the album depends on the melody and lyrics, rather than just the sound.

More or less, Felix has been known for more than a decade for these pulsing beats listeners enjoy dancing along to. However, on Blast Illusion he’s shifted his focus to making tracks with enticing melodies that provide his audience with various moods. The album kicks off with “?Why Games,” a track with memorable synthesizers that actually take a backseat to the emotionally driven vocals and lyrics. An altered voice sings the haunting lyrics, “Ever since I saw your face / you say you want your space.”

“Codeine Cowboy” is a trippy track filled with soulful sounds that contradict the first track. It contradicts because the vocals take more of a backseat with lyrics that are difficult to understand at times. It’s a fascinating experimental track as a whole. The next track, “Is Everything Ok?” reminds whoever might be listening that the melody is what Narrative of Thee Blast Illusion is all about. The beat sends a fun vibe, but the introspective lyrics cause the audience to listen closely rather than dance along aimlessly.

“The Natural” is a reggae inspired track. It should be noted this isn’t the typical reggae vibe some listeners may be familiar with. It’s a unique mix — it actually sounds as if Felix Da Housecat and collaborator Lee “Scratch” Perry are taking a journey through space. It’s certainly odd, but it also somehow works.

Narrative of Thee Blast Illusion is certainly one of the more unique albums released so far this summer. Felix Da Housecat is known for fusing genres together and this latest album is no exception. This is an LP with melodies that are instantly mesmerizing. It’s a new side of this well-known DJ and it’s one that audiences will likely quickly embrace.