Mau5trap celebrates the 10-year anniversary of We Are Friends

Just a one-year gap separates Mau5trap’s last release from the record label’s latest release, We Are Friends, Vol. 10, and although the project follows a long-standing tradition, it doesn’t stop fans from describing the release as an “anticipated wait.” This is the least bit surprising being that deadmau5, the “Goat Lord” himself, has established one of the most loyal and passionate fanbases in the electronic music genre over his 13+ years of fame. Spreading his accomplishments to what is known today as one of the largest labels in electronic music, deadmau5 has been on the rise of inspiring artists, helping them achieve their path to success ever since establishing the label back in 2007.

Celebrating the label’s 10 year anniversary of the We Are Friends project, Mau5trap releases Volume 10, featuring a collection of 18 tracks from a variety of the label’s artists. As deadmau5 continues his tradition of being on the first track of each album, he gives listeners “Arguru 2K19,” an extended seven-minute, heavier, house-induced version of the original “Arguru” from 2008’s Random Album Title LP. Following deadmau5’s remix comes “Feels Like,” a synthetic, familiar-sounding melodic track performed by Canadian DJ ATTLAS and singer/songwriter Colleen D’Agostino. 

With this album featuring over 20 artists on the label, it provides listeners with an exciting smorgasborg that fulfills their long-awaited expectations, as the album holds a specific taste to fans of the EDM genre. The album features some of the label’s most notable artists, such as BlackGummy and .ATM on track three, “Trouble in Paradise.” The two DJs bring people an anxiety-inducing dubstep-house mix that could be satisfying to super fans, but the overall production doesn’t reveal anything worth being impressed about. However, the following track, “Boondoggle,” by EDDIE, is somewhat exciting, as it begins with an enticing introduction of engine-like sounds before revealing a very heavy club dubstep/house mix. The next track, “Mando,” follows the overlying theme of deep house and dub as Canadian producer Eekkoo presents a surprise to fans with distinct, unidentifiable vocals. 

“Wildcard” by Fehrplay initially comes across as a light break from the heavy house proliferated throughout the album but soon becomes as loud as the rest of the tracks with a layering of synthesizers and laser-like sounds. “Fly on the Wall” by Grabbitz and “Ride or Die” (feat. M4NDY) by Mr. Bill are two tracks that provide a lighter singer-songwriter feel over the electronic beats, whereas the other vocals on tracks like “Be” by Tommy Trash and “90s Child” by Rinzen blend more into the instrumentals of the beat to create a washed-out blend of overlapping vocals and synthesizers. 

“Flash” by MOGUAI is probably the most relaxed song of the heavily dance-focused album, as it provides listeners with a techno-house mix that was produced at a lighter volume than the rest. Overall, the rest of the songs on We Are Friends, Vol. 10 blend together as a batch of deep house tracks that were produced a few notches too high, but of course, without the effect of being louder than what the human ear could normally handle, it wouldn’t make up the sound that Mau5trap fans love.