The Blessed Madonna’s ‘Godspeed’ Is a Housey Blast of Nonstop Party Starters: Album Review
Some albums are made for chin-stroking, with deeply complex, intellectually challenging lyrics, song structures, instrumentation and production, creations that deeply stimulate the brain but leave the butt in neutral.
And then there are albums where the entire point is to make you feel good and dance — like veteran DJ the Blessed Madonna’s first full-length album, “Godspeed.” It’s nearly 90 minutes of nonstop party starters, where the groove and the emotion are jobs one and two, with the occasional strategic interlude to catch your breath and reset the mood.
None of which is to say “Godspeed” isn’t intelligent — it’s a masterfully created, produced and sequenced house-infused throwdown from one of the best DJs working today, the kind of rare album you could put on for a party and let play all the way through, and then play it again. It’s got all of the elements: diva and soulful vocals, housey piano hooks, big choruses, fchunky guitars and a spiritual vibe throughout that occasionally slides straight into thoughtful, spoken interludes and even gospel (“Mercy (The Welcome).”
It starts off deceptively, with the rigid beats of “Nowhere Fast” and “Henny Hold Up,” but soon settles into an easier house groove with the perfectly titled “Serotonin Moonbeams” and basically stays in that lane for the next hour-plus.
Kylie Minogue’s guest vocal on “Edge of Saturday Night” is the only superstar appearance, but Joy Anonymous, Danielle Ponder, James Vincent McMorrow, A-Trak, Jacob Lusk, Joy Crookes and more all turn in strong performances.
“Godspeed” is the perfect next step from Blessed Madonna’s masterful curation of Dua Lipa’s “Club Future Nostalgia” 2020 remix album, and will rock a party just as perfectly.
Godspeed Tracklisting:
1. God Has Left The Room (Intro)
2. Somebody’s Daughter
3. Nowhere Fast
4. Henny Hold Up Feat. Mother Marygold, Ric Wilson
5. Jinterlude
6. Serotonin Moonbeams
7. Edge of Saturday Night with Kylie Minogue
8. U Want 6 Grand 4 Wut (Interlude)
9. Blessed Already Feat. Ric Wilson, Mabl
10. Strength (R U Ready) Feat. Joy Crookes
11. Why Trax Records Still Sucks in 24 (Interlude)
12. We Still Believe Feat. Jamie Principle
13. That’s The Shhh (Pure Love) (Interlude)
14. Carry Me Higher Feat. Danielle Ponder
15. Henterlude Feat. Joy Anonymous
16. Back 2 Love Feat. Jin Jin
17. Brand New Feat. James Vincent McMorrow, A-Trak
18. Count On My Love Feat. Daniel Wilson, KON
19. Godspeed Feat. DJ E-Clyps
20. Secretariat Feat. Shaun J. Wright, KON
21. Mercy (The Welcome) Feat. Jacob Lusk
22. Mercy Feat. Jacob Lusk
23. Your Mom <3 (Interlude)
24. Happier Feat. Clementine Douglas
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