After four years of silence,
Far East Movement
return with their fifth LP,
Identity
. Now a trio, the electronic-rap crew pleasantly surprise with this mature and transformative effort that succeeds in honoring their roots by bridging the gap between their Asian and American cultures. Everyone's invited to this party. K-pop stars collide with American rappers, pop hooks melt into sparkling electronic atmospherics, and the result is nothing but bright and optimistic. While recording in both Asia and Los Angeles, the group --
Kev Nish
,
Prohgress
, and
DJ Virman
-- enlisted an eye-catching team of collaborators from around the globe, creating a truly communal and familial feel on
. The natural chemistry is felt on each track, which peppers inspired guest production and vocals atop
's own rapping and songwriting. Each guest vocalist lends a different vibe to each track, whether through uplifting joy on the
Yoon Mirae
-assisted ode to immigrants, "Fighter"; exuberant celebration on the
Marshmello
/
Tinashe
Chanyeol
(
EXO
) triple-threat "Freal Luv"; or irresistible energy on "Don't Speak," a bass-popping K-pop anthem starring
Girls' Generation
's
Tiffany
. Korean-American rapper
Jay Park
-- aided by slick
MNEK
production -- seduces on the naughty "SXWME," while
Soulja Boy
and Korean rapper
Loco
trade filthy verses on the cavernous pogo-twitching "Double Dip." Even
Macy Gray
makes an appearance on "Forever Survivor," a spacious anthem that respectfully allows her raspy voice to take center stage. There's so much going on as
progresses, yet it all works. The combinations feel natural, which is a credit to
and their producer pals (Norwegian EDM producer
Autolaser
makes the most appearances, in addition to others like
No Riddim
King Chain
MKNNA
). One standout on an album full of peaks is the gorgeous "Umbrella," which features
Sistar
Hyolyn
and Taiwanese EDM producer
Gill Chang
. The song sparkles, sounding like a typical chart-topping Asian ballad but infused with a lush beat that elevates it beyond the saccharine. For those expecting more rides on that G6, this may sound like a completely different group (the closest dirty bass to be found is the raunchy
Big K.R.I.T.
joint "FBG$"). However, that change in their sound is essential: they've grown, found an authentic voice, and delivered a collection that is truly a cross-cultural effort as their moniker implies. Compared to the strobe-blasted jams of
Dirty Bass
and
Free Wired
, this is night and day.
opens the club doors after the party has ended, bathing listeners in the warmth of the sunrise and a huge breath of fresh air. ~ Neil Z. Yeung