Marshmello - Joytime II

Marshmello's Joytime II is a 2018 shot of pure, candy-coloured euphoria from the masked producer who turned a white helmet and a smile into one of dance music's most recognisable logos.

By the time this second studio album arrived, Marshmello had become a fixture of festival main stages and streaming playlists alike, and he chose to release it independently. Where plenty of big-room producers chase ever louder drops, Joytime II leans into melody, warmth and an almost childlike sense of wonder, the follow-up to the first Joytime and a clear step forward in polish.

"Together" glides on shimmering synth chords and a bounce that feels made for sunrise sets, and "Check This Out" shows off his more playful side. "Flashbacks" carries a wistful, nostalgic glow, while "Imagine" closes the record on a hopeful, gently soaring note.

Nine tracks keep the album tight and easy to replay, with plenty of the bright, bubbly future bass textures that defined his sound in this era.

Upbeat from start to finish, it lands on vinyl as a cheerful souvenir of the years when that white helmet seemed to be headlining every festival bill on the planet, and those hooks still sparkle every bit as brightly as they did back then.