Fire & Ice
American DJ and producer Kaskade isn\'t afraid to experiment with his musical productions, as his album *Fire & Ice* eloquently proves. Kaskade\'s sound molds to fit the musical strengths of his featured artists. His sweet spot is creating uplifting, synth-heavy progressive house tracks like \"Eyes,\" \"Turn It Down,\" and \"Llove.\" The mesmerizing vocals of Haley and Mindy Gledhill are as much associated with Kaskade\'s production as the melodies themselves. Yet Kaskade proves his versatility with the rock-inspired \"Lessons in Love\" and the dubstep-infused \"Lick It,\" featuring Skrillex. Not one to be confined to synth-laden, energetic house songs, Kaskade also includes minimalist \"ICE Mix\" productions for every track on the album. In the second half, Kaskade replaces computerized electronic elements with string sections and piano chords, showcasing his composition skills. The beauty of these productions is especially apparent on \"Room for Happiness,\" featuring Skylar Grey\'s haunting lyrics and vocals.
If his 2010 effort Dynasty upped the glitz and glamour, Kaskade’s 2011 return splits the difference between the DJ/producer’s post-Deadmau5 style (big tunes that bust out of the speakers with big production values) and his earlier work (house music that’s smooth and euphoric).