Spoiler alert: There’s been a fresh, massive killing in the Star Wars universe. Musical emperor Rick Rubin just co-executive produced the absolute slaying of the latest nugget of experimental success to come from George Lucas’ universe. His instrument of death, wielded by 14 accomplices, comes to us in the form of electronic sound waves that’ll have you sky-walking (had to do it) on a cloud of galactic entertainment.
Still wondering what in Yoda’s name I’m talking about and not yet gravely ill from the objectively awful puns? Well, the aforementioned killing comes to us in the form of Star Wars Headspace, the 15-track Star Wars electronic music extravaganza that turns sound bites from the series into fascinating EDM tracks sure to be performed at whatever spring break festival you’ve bought yourself an overpriced ticket for.
With 15 of electronic music’s top artists coming together under Rubin’s direction to create an hour and five minutes of material based off the most commercially successful series in our solar system, Star Wars Headspace provides an exhilarating journey for both the die-hard Lucasfilm lovers and the casual fan stupid enough to admit they like Jar Jar Binks, because, well, he’s a sweetheart (and yes, that’s me). It begins with Kaskade’s epic creation “C-3PO’s Plight,” a euphoric summertime jam with a drop catalyzed by a clip of C-3PO saying “typical.” The track instantly draws in the listener, who becomes both amused by the epic C-3PO drop and enamored by Kaskade’s joy-inducing production. Immediately following Kaskade’s contribution is another standout track, GTA’s “Help Me!” The nearly four-minute trap anthem is fueled by audio of Princess Lea’s plea for Obi-Wan Kenobi’s help, for yes indeed, he is her only hope, and you’ll be sure to bang your head violently back and forth in the name of the Force. Other standouts include the epic odyssey of a track that is the ATTLAS-produced “Sunset Over Manaan,” the most amazingly named banger of all time in Rustie’s “EWOKK PUMP” and Breakbot’s futuristic, funk-filled “Star Tripper,” a song that sounds like John Williams took some acid before composing the score of the series.
The sheer list of contributors on Star Wars Headspace is an accomplishment in itself. Flying Lotus, the Adult Swim theme music maestro, throws his hat (or perhaps more appropriately, his helmet) into the ring with the help of the galaxy’s most lovable bot on “R2 Where R U?” Baauer energizes the track list with his upbeat, Han and Chewy-inspired “Cantina Boys” and Los Angeles producer Shlohmo executes a relaxingly smooth instrumental on “Druid Caravan of Smoke.” Even Rubin himself comes through with a track, bringing forth the multipart, five-minute, 17-second smash that is “NR-G7.” In one of the album’s only lackluster efforts, Galantis produces the rather boring and disappointing “Scruffy-Looking Nerfherder.” Luckily for Galantis, naming any track “Scruffy-Looking Nerfherder” earns enough style points to warrant its inclusion on the album.
While craving and desperately waiting for Rian Johnson’s Episode VIII, don’t let your need for Star Wars-related content draw you into a state of violent withdrawal. Instead, let Star Wars Headspace, the most stylistically 21st-century score of all time, carry you over until the next installment of Jedi wonder. Or, if you’re one of the freaks (like myself) who has yet to even see Episode VII in all its J.J. Abrams-filled glory, let the album be your personal inspiration to go spend some more money to see the latest chapter of the iconic franchise. Also, may whoever tweeted any sort of spoiler for the film be forever punished with the task of cleaning Rubin’s beard.
