Released 17 June 2014 while(1<2)(2014) W/2016ALBUM/(2016) Release date 17 June 2014 Genres Electro house, Downtempo | Recorded 2006, 2008, 2014 Artist deadmau5 Producer deadmau5 | |
 | ||
Length 130:53 (mixed)139:17 (unmixed) Label mau5trapAstralwerksVirgin EMI Nominations Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album, Juno Award for Electronic Album of the Year Similar deadmau5 albums, Electro house albums, Other albums | ||
while(1<2) (pronounced as While (1 Is Less Than 2)) is the seventh studio album by the Canadian record producer and DJ deadmau5, released on 17 June 2014 by mau5trap and Astralwerks in the United States and Canada and by Virgin EMI Records internationally. It is his first studio album to be released by Virgin EMI and Astralwerks. Many of the songs on the album were originally uploaded to deadmau5's SoundCloud account before they were removed from the site in early 2014.
Contents
Background
On 7 January 2014, deadmau5 announced on Twitter that his seventh album was completed. He also announced that it was a double album containing a continuous mix for each disc and that the album as a whole, minus the mixes, would contain 25 tracks. On 10 May 2014, while(1<2) was officially unveiled by deadmau5 through his subscription service live.deadmau5.com and also announced the album's digital release date of 17 June 2014 with a physical release on 24 June.
Singles
The first single "Avaritia" became available for purchase on 20 May 2014. One week later, the second single "Seeya", featuring singer Colleen D'Agostino from the band The Material, was made available for purchase on iTunes. On 2 June 2014, the third single "Infra Turbo Pigcart Racer" premiered on mau5trap's SoundCloud page. It was made available for download on iTunes and Beatport the next day. The album's fourth single, "Phantoms Can't Hang", was also premiered through SoundCloud the day before its release on iTunes and Beatport which was on 10 June 2014.
Critical Reception
While(1<2) received mixed to positive reviews from critics. It currently holds a score of 66 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favourable reviews". Billboard gave the album 4.5/5 stars stating "Sprawling, ambitious and mostly well-executed, “while (1<2)” may confuse his fan base’s Ultra-attending electro house contingent, but deadmau5’s double album undoubtedly marks his most mature and forward-thinking release to date". All Music also reviewed positively expressing "While(1<2) is a very good, very restrained, and very inspired Deadmau5 effort. It is a welcome space-walk surprise, recommended for all aspiring EDM astronauts and Ghost in the Shell cast members", with a score of 3.5/5 stars.
Rolling Stone, however, was more critical of the album stating "Deadmau5 has turned from an electro-house polymath into the world's most unnecessary Nine Inch Nails tribute act" giving it 2 stars out of 5. Slant Magazine was equally critical saying "deadmau5 enters the fray with the advantage of deeply diminished expectations. His latest, while (1<2), comfortably clears the bar set by his contemporaries, and that would be impressive if the bar wasn't buried underground" also awarding it 2 stars.
Track listing
Note
Songs
1Avaritia6:43
2Coelacanth I2:46
3Ice Age (deadmau5 Remix)6:52