Review
After years of operating as a vital co-pilot for pop’s avant-garde, Danny L Harle dims the chaotic strobe lights of his past solo work for something distinctly moodier. Cerulean steps away from the frantic gabber of his Harlecore era to plunge into the melodic trance and Eurodance of the early 2000s. The Guardian describes the project as "an earnest salvage operation on music he genuinely loved during his youth," reviving bright Y2K tropes with meticulous sincerity.
Critics largely admire the producer's newly applied restraint, noting a shift toward structural elegance even as he recruits heavy hitters like Caroline Polachek, PinkPantheress, and Dua Lipa. The record relies on thumping beats, submerged synths, and spacious arrangements, embracing what Exclaim notes are "sanded-down edges and softened tones". While a few writers find the A-list features unevenly integrated—Pitchfork observes that apart from Polachek's committed diva turn, "other vocals fail to emulsify"—the broader consensus praises Harle's rigorous craftsmanship. Rather than a frenetic sugar rush, Cerulean operates as a guided, introspective descent onto a deep-blue dance floor.
