Danz (album) explained

Danz
Type:studio
Artist:Computer Magic
Cover:Computer Magic - Danz.png
Alt:Computer Magic - Danz
Studio:Spectro Studios (New York, NY)[1]
Length:33:59
Label:Channel 9 Records, P-Vine, Tugboat
Producer:Danz CM
Prev Title:Davos
Prev Year:2015
Next Title:The Absurdity of Human Existence
Next Year:2021

Danz is the second studio album of Danielle "Danz" Johnson and the last released under the moniker Computer Magic before changing it to Danz CM. It was released on February 23, 2018 on her label Channel 9 Records and on P-Vine and Tugboat in Japan.

Background and recording

Johnson wrote, produced, arranged, recorded, mixed and mastered all songs on Danz at Spectro Studios in New York. According to her, this album is her most personal out of any other record she made. She drew inspiration from her life and characters from films or books. Some of the themes of the album include identity crisis ("about slowly losing your mind during your creative process"), death (e.g. "Drift Away" is about her stepbrother Eric, who died when she was younger), dreams (e.g. "Space and Time / Pale Blue Dot" is about a dream she experienced about drifting off into the atmosphere and floating into the cosmos), artificial intelligence (e.g. "Ordinary Life (Message from an A.I. Girlfriend)" is about a human like robot girlfriend yearning for more in life to experience than household chores), politics (e.g. "Delirium (Don't Follow the Sheep)" is about not following the masses).[2] [3]

Promotion and release

The title Danz is a reference to her nickname. The album was supported by four music videos: "Amnesia", "Ordinary Life (Message from an A.I. Girlfriend)" (with a concept by Johnson and the director Anise Mariko), "Perfect Game", and "Clouds".

Reception

The album received an Album Pick mark from Allmusic but no review.[4] In a positive review, the indie music site The Revue called the album "Johnson's most introspective to date and a wildly imaginative and brilliant piece of art."[5] According to Brightest Young Things, "Danz features ten shimmering, synth-laden tracks, and while it’s certainly a departure from Davos, the catalog still sounds like the Computer Magic we know and love."[6] The album received a negative review from Exclaim!.[7]

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Longest Rose on Twitter: "I got a record!! It's one of my favourite albums - Danz by @danz_cm!" - Twitter . 30 January 2021.
  2. Web site: Computer Magic's Westworld-Like Robot-Human Love Song Lenny Letter . December 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201206162501/https://www.lennyletter.com/story/computer-magics-westworld-like-robot-human-love-song . 2020-12-06 .
  3. Web site: A Short Conversation with COMPUTER MAGIC – THE ELECTRICITY CLUB . December 12, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201212194405/http://www.electricityclub.co.uk/a-short-conversation-with-computer-magic/ . 2020-12-12 .
  4. Web site: DANZ - Computer Magic User Reviews AllMusic . . 14 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201214203742/https://www.allmusic.com/album/danz-mw0003150272 . 14 December 2020 . en-us.
  5. Web site: Computer Magic – 'DANZ' (album review) . The Revue . 14 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180306210028/https://therevue.ca/2018/02/27/computer-magic-danz/ . 6 March 2018 . 27 February 2018.
  6. Web site: BYT Interviews: Computer Magic . BYT // Brightest Young Things . 26 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201226154350/https://brightestyoungthings.com/articles/byt-interviews-computer-magic-2018 . 26 December 2020 . 27 February 2018.
  7. Web site: Computer Magic DANZ . exclaim.ca . 13 January 2021 . en-ca.
  8. Web site: Computer Magic, Her New Album "Danz" & Her Love Of Peter Pan . Greenpointers . 15 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201215002126/https://greenpointers.com/2018/02/16/computer-magic-new-album-danz-love-peter-pan/ . 15 December 2020 . 16 February 2018.