Language Games is the project of Prague-based Chinese artist Kurt, producing a form of indie-rock that’s sure to get stuck inside your head in no time! His EP, Vignettes for a Sad Life is an interesting prospect, made even more impressive by the fact that this is debut release!
By Jane Howkins
Mr EGO starts out with a fuzzy guitar line, before the drums and vocals kick in. It’s quite a minimalist affair at first, with more and more being added to the track as it builds up over time. Kurt’s vocals are quite unique sounding at times, but there’s a real sense of emotional depth available within them. The chorus brings a whole host of jangly guitars and synths into the mix, making you really feel the lyrics as they’re sung in a beautiful manner.
Bandit is a quieter affair, opening with some interesting backing effects, before a slow electric guitar melody emerges into the fray. The percussion has a jazzy quality, showing another genre this talented musician is proficient in. It’s more of an experimental song than the previous one, but the subtle nature of the music really allows Kurt’s heartfelt vocals to really shine through.
Killing Fields is another indie song, but it’s still got quite a slow tempo. However, this is definitely a good thing, as it lets the dreamy vocals drift their way across the music in a stylistic way. The guitar melodies are slow and steady, followed in turn by the bass and drums. The rhythm has a waltz flavour, as little synth motifs appear in the background every so often.
Symbiotic Love is a really beautiful sounding song at times – the guitars have a lovely quality, suiting Kurt’s clear vocals well as he sings along in the background. The music is more at the focal point here, but the vocals still have a certain clarity to them. The emotion within the vocals is incredibly strong, making you feel everything that Kurt is singing – a choir of voices appears towards the end, adding more to this.
Xanax Holiday is the closing song, with the expansive textures suiting it well. The song starts out slowly, with steady drums and guitars providing most of the instrumentation, before the pace picks up slightly on the chorus. The change in rhythm really makes this track stand head and shoulders above the rest of Language Games’ peers, making for a worthwhile listen!
Vignettes for a Sad Life is a unique proposition, suiting those who like their indie a little different to the norm. It’s a true testament to Language Games’ skills that one man is able to create such lovely sounds!
Social media: Soundcloud, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, TikTok, Spotify