PEPPER REVIEWS: K0d4m4 - 木魂 EP2 氷

My first post about k0d4m4's 2nd ep :)

K0d4m4 is an electronic artist from Seattle, Washington. They’ve been releasing music for 7 years, most of which on SoundCloud, but have been making their music available on streaming platforms as of recent. They have an album, and a couple of EPs, this being one of them, their second EP. I’ve listened to a couple of their songs in the past, such as their remix of Kept, an unreleased track from Crystal Castles, 3tc3t3ra, cranberri, and a couple others. And they definitely fit into this circle of underground artists/bands who take inspiration from Crystal Castles.

For those who don’t know, Crystal Castles is an old duo who blew up in the 2000’s back when Indie Sleaze and Bloghouse used to be a thing. They were known for their electric, dark dance music that mixed with Nintendo chiptune synthesizers. Also for their gothic, grunge aesthetic they went for in cover photos, album covers, and music videos. And songs like Vanished, Kerosene, and Crimewave. Although breaking up in 2016 for really disturbing reasons, their music is loved by many people and have inspired many to make music like them.

With bands/artists such as Snow Strippers, Suzy Sheer, Sidewalks and Skeletons, Pastel Ghost, and many others. Taking Crystal Castles’ dark, sometimes heavenly, electric dance music. Sometimes taking their gothic, internet aesthetic, taking their traditional synthesizers such as square waves, and even taking their exact beat patterns. And K0d4m4 is no exception to most of these, using their traditional square wave synths, chiptune bass and 808s, and their exact beats and snares on tracks like holograph ii, nonsense, and a couple others. However, do they do anything that make themselves stand out?

The answer would be yes and sadly no, because although somethings interesting and unique, they’re some moments where they take things from the band. Let’s start with the unique parts, it’s way more distorted and ground shaking than what Crystal Castles could ever be. Songs like p i x e l s with Echo Angel or N’cest-ce Pas, the bass is way more distorted and more bass boosted, like the house or sweaty warehouse could shake just putting it on a DJ Set. Or a song like Cloudghost that starts off like a traditional Crystal Castles song, but comes in with these bit crushed chiptune synths, distorted, echo-y vocal chops, and in the later half, comes in with this loud, electric bass that once again, could make the sweaty warehouse this track is playing at collapse. They’re other songs like this on the project like Heavenspots.

Now, for what makes the EP like Crystal Castles: Like I said before, some songs have the same beats and snares like the band. Such as Windows1, which has the same kickdrum, snare, and hi-hats as an old Crystal Castles song. What also makes this song like the duo, is the weird vocal chops that pitch up the vocals, delay it, and glitched out. Even songs like Nonsense do this, glitched out vocal chops and same kickdrums and snares. Also, heavily relying on Nintendo-like synthesizers on many songs here, like P i x e l s and Heavenspots, and soak it in reverb or distortion.

And although it’s not the best project that can stand on its own without just being considered a rip-off, some of the songs do go hard when they’re on, and some of the interesting choices K0d4m4 makes helps it from being pretty unique. Some of my favorite songs off this EP try to make themselves unique and stand out, like Cloudghost, P i x e l s, and N’cest-ce Pas. Plus, at least we’re getting music like this from someone who isn’t a creep. Yeah, Crystal Castles was discontiued because the band member, Ethan Kath, was accused of sexual assault on multiple women. So thank god we’re getting very stylish, cool music like this still.

Plus, even if it’s a little generic, I’m a sucker for this sound and what people can do with it. One of my favorite bands, Snow Strippers, do this exact thing, just heavily rely on supersaws and a bling-era aesthetic. Check them out, they’re cool. Anyways, K0d4m4’s second EP, although does stand out a little, I like what they do have to offer.

Favorite Tracks: Heavenspots, Nonsense, P i x e l s, Cloudghost, N’'cest-ce Pas

Least-Favorite Track: Windows1

Score: 7/10