For years, Third Party has been steadily climbing the ranks with impeccable production and emotive songwriting, earning them a well-deserved place in the upper echelons of dance music. After constructing an early legacy with explosive solo releases and high profile remixes, the London-based duo went on to form their own imprint, Release Records, and have since worked with the likes of Martin Garrix, Steve Angello, and more. Now, all those years of work culminate in their debut LP, Hope.
The album’s title says it all, and this 11-track collection is formed around just that, to motivate and inspire fans to move persevere no matter what life throws their way. The music itself is everything you love about Third Party, packing everything from pounding electro to gorgeous progressive, chilling piano-driven house, and even tossing bits of acid into the mix.
Kicking off the album on a high note, “Without You” is an absolute monster of a tune, blaring a euphoric melody that’s enough to make even Dr. Scrooge himself crack a smile. The mood quickly bounds on to “Live Forever,” and as the lead single off the album, the track hasn’t lost an ounce of allure since we first heard it back in December. “Veins” continues the uplifting themes of Hope with a hint of nostalgia in the arpeggiated synthwork, which offer a subtle nod to turn-of-the-millennia records that form the roots the modern soundscape.
Considering this is dance music, what album would be complete without a dose of soul? “Guiding Light” seamlessly blends sultry vocals with the explosive vigor of bright-eyed synths supported by insatiable mids, all of which carry over to the tones of “Waiting.”
As a welcome mid-point, Third Party’s heavier leanings begin to shine through on”Arrival,” an electro-inspired demon that’s going to absolutely break crowds this festival season. It’s not hard to imagine what the boys were going for with this one; shimmering embellishments, laser assaults, and driving bass place listeners firmly into the realm of science fiction.
Next up, threading together nostalgic hits with a fat twinge of acid, “Get Back” is going to get your blood pumping just right. This gem is a proper throwback with delectable sequencing, ebbing fills, voluptuous risers, and a heavenly balance of tension and release. And we’d be fools to forget about Third Party’s collaboration with Martin Garrix “Lions In The Wild.” This main stage weapon remains the powerhouse anthem we know and love, now with over 17 million collective plays to date.
“Hurt” is by far the most pop-friendly track off the album, but despite being of a different cut, it fits in beautifully in the context of Hope. The arrangement’s piano arrangement is chillingly appropriate, each element is given plenty of space to breathe through the mix, and the vocals are simple, yet oh-so powerful.
Then it’s back to the arena-filling sounds of “Have No Fear,” boasting an enormity as befits its message. Oh, and take care your heart doesn’t crumble with the fresh VIP mix of “Everyday Of My Life.” Placing the remix of this iconic tune at the end of the album was no accident, and all the emotion you’ve felt throughout Hope is revisited once more in this certified tearjerker. Don’t worry though, they’re happy tears, we promise.
This is easily one of the best electronic dance albums we’ve heard in years, and we couldn’t be more proud to present the World Premiere of Third Party’s Hope, available tomorrow 2/24 on your favorite digital platform.
Prepare your ears for an over-the-counter dose of auditory bliss, and read on to hear Third Party’s thoughts behind the album, and what’s in store for 2017.
Congratulations on the album! I can honestly say it’s one of the best progressive works I’ve heard in the last couple years. How long have you guys been working on this and how does it feel to finally release it into the world?
“Thank you! We probably started the project about 18 months ago, that was when we really committed to the idea of doing an album and to have it finally finished is an amazing feeling!”
You’ve got a history of successful singles under your belt, what has been different about working on a full-length LP?
“The main difference is working out what your overall concept is, making sure all the tracks have the same feeling and can work as a body of work together. We hate seeing albums that are obviously just a load of singles stuck together without any real meaning of what the bigger picture is.”
The album’s namesake says a lot about the material, but can you describe the concept and what you wanted to accomplish?
“We came up with the title ‘Hope’ as we felt this represented what we wanted the message of the album to be as a whole. We want people who listen to the album to be inspired the way we were inspired by music we listened to growing up. Also from a human level, music has the power to create ‘Hope’ for someone in any aspect of their life, so if any of the songs can motivate/inspire/help anyone in anyway we will feel it was all worth it!”
I’m a sucker for “Without You”, but there’s something for everyone in ‘Hope’. What are your personal favorites from the album and why?
“Tricky question, we probably change our mind every week so maybe ask us later on in the year!”
What can fans expect from Third Party and RELEASE in 2017?
“We have a lot planned for 2017, we’re announcing an album tour very soon which includes our residency at Ministry of Sound where we’re back at on March 10th for a ‘Release’ night. Then we’re putting on our biggest show to date in Liverpool with a brand new concept called ‘The STAGE’ which we’re really excited about! It’s a big new custom made stage being made, we’re putting in a lot of work with our visual team to create the best visuals to fit with the music, which hopefully creates an unforgettable experience for the fans!”
