Danny L Harle's 'Cerulean' raises more questions than answers about its intentions and artistic value. On one hand, this album is a celebration of his love for early 2000s pop-trance big on BBC Radio 1, with guest appearances from prominent artists such as Clairo, Caroline Polachek, PinkPantheress, MNEK, and Florence + the Machine.
However, upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that Cerulean is a curious case – part homage to its influences, yet also a somewhat poor imitation of those same very influences. In this regard, Harle's attempt at recreating the sound of Eiffel 65 or the melodic sensibilities of Evanescence feels heavy-handed and forced.
The inclusion of tracks like 'Laa' with its panpipe hooks reminiscent of Darude's iconic 'Sandstorm,' brings to mind the very criticisms that Harle may have sought to avoid. In contrast, songs like 'Azimuth,' which features a powerful vocal performance from Caroline Polachek, suggest an earnest attempt at marrying disparate musical styles – albeit one that results in a somewhat jarring cocktail of pop-trance and gothy hard rock.
Beyond its lyrical themes, Cerulean's tracklisting is marked by lengthy instrumental passages, experimental beats, and even an unintentionally campy contribution from PinkPantheress. The latter raises questions about the overall cohesion of this album and whether it will be met with acclaim or ridicule from listeners familiar with Harlecore.
Ultimately, what Cerulean lacks – particularly in comparison to its influences – is a compelling pop hook that could disarm even the most hardened skeptics. Those who fondly recall the chart-topping days of Cascada, Kelly Llorenna, and Trance Nation compilations may find themselves swooning over this album's sugary sweetness and intense energy. For others, it's an experience that borders on cringe-worthy – a sugar-coated assault on the senses that elicits more than a few involuntary eye-rolls.
However, upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that Cerulean is a curious case – part homage to its influences, yet also a somewhat poor imitation of those same very influences. In this regard, Harle's attempt at recreating the sound of Eiffel 65 or the melodic sensibilities of Evanescence feels heavy-handed and forced.
The inclusion of tracks like 'Laa' with its panpipe hooks reminiscent of Darude's iconic 'Sandstorm,' brings to mind the very criticisms that Harle may have sought to avoid. In contrast, songs like 'Azimuth,' which features a powerful vocal performance from Caroline Polachek, suggest an earnest attempt at marrying disparate musical styles – albeit one that results in a somewhat jarring cocktail of pop-trance and gothy hard rock.
Beyond its lyrical themes, Cerulean's tracklisting is marked by lengthy instrumental passages, experimental beats, and even an unintentionally campy contribution from PinkPantheress. The latter raises questions about the overall cohesion of this album and whether it will be met with acclaim or ridicule from listeners familiar with Harlecore.
Ultimately, what Cerulean lacks – particularly in comparison to its influences – is a compelling pop hook that could disarm even the most hardened skeptics. Those who fondly recall the chart-topping days of Cascada, Kelly Llorenna, and Trance Nation compilations may find themselves swooning over this album's sugary sweetness and intense energy. For others, it's an experience that borders on cringe-worthy – a sugar-coated assault on the senses that elicits more than a few involuntary eye-rolls.
i mean cerulean has some awesome features like clairo & caroline polachek but like at times its just too much pop-trance lol u can def feel the influences but sometimes it feels like he's trying way too hard 2 fit in w/ those iconic tracks. and dont even get me started on laa 
panpipe hooks r fun n all but come on, darude's sandstorm is a CLASSIC. cant say im wholeheartedly hyped 4 cerulean cuz its def got some gems, but like others might say it's more cringeworthy than iconic 
... but sometimes we're left wondering if it's truly appreciated for what it is or if people are just being kind because they feel obligated 
. Danny L Harle's 'Cerulean' is a good example of this - on the surface, it's got all these big names and catchy hooks, but when you dig deeper, you realize it's not quite as cohesive as he hoped 
. It's almost like we're too quick to judge others and their work without really understanding what goes into creating something like this 
... we need to take a step back, breathe, and remember that everyone has their own struggles and imperfections 
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. And what's up with the production? It's like he mixed it all together without thinking about how it would sound in a club. I mean, I'm not asking for perfection or anything, but some cohesion wouldn't kill him... 
This album seems to be a reflection of Danny L Harle's eclectic taste, but it also raises some questions about its authenticity. Is it truly an homage to his influences or just a shallow imitation? Does the sheer amount of features from prominent artists make up for the lack of originality in the songwriting? Ultimately, it comes down to personal taste, but it's hard not to feel like this album is more "meh" than a masterpiece.
anyone else have thoughts on this album? 
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Cerulean is just a messy attempt at nostalgia and isn't even original enough to be respected. I mean, who thought it was a good idea to include a track that's basically a carbon copy of Sandstorm? It's like Danny L Harle took every 'cool' 2000s pop-trance reference and mashed them all together into one big mess 
And don't even get me started on the experimental beats – they're just awkwardly placed and don't add anything to the overall vibe. The only thing that saves Cerulean from being a total disaster is maybe Caroline Polachek's feature on 'Azimuth', but even that's not enough to redeem the rest of this sugary sweet trainwreck 
and i get why some ppl might be like "this is just a poor imitation" 
. i feel like the album could've been more cohesive if he didn't include all those super experimental tracks... it's like he was trying to appeal to everyone and ended up appealing to no one 
Did you know that 'Cerulean' has already racked up 12 million streams on Spotify in just two weeks? 
That's crazy for a debut album. And with its catchy hooks and energetic beats, I can see why fans of Harlecore might be flocking to it... 
... On one hand, I love how he's paying tribute to those iconic 2000s pop-trance tracks - it's like a nostalgic dream come true! But at the same time, I think he might be overcompensating with all the guest features and experimental beats... I mean, some of these songs are straight fire 
But, at the same time, I think it's kinda cheesy how he's tryin' to recreate these iconic sounds and ends up feelin' like a total copycat... 
And those instrumental passages are just so... experimental? 
But, can we talk about how some of these collaborations feel like a bad mashup of pop-trance and gothy hard rock? 
. the thing is tho, cerulean feels like a bit of a mixed bag - it's got some great energy & sugary sweetness, but also some cringe-worthy moments 
. what i think is missing is that one pop hook that'd make ppl go wild 
