Windsor-based electronic/alt-pop artist Remik Erikson has already managed to carve out an unmistakably unique niche within the modern music industry, transforming lyrics about life’s everyday indulgences into playful, groove-heavy dance-pop tunes that will have you dancing all night long. New album A Baker’s Dirty Dozen was recorded entirely from Remik’s basement studio, but despite this DIY charm, it all sounds perfectly produced, making for one banging pop record overall.
By Jane Howkins
BBC AirBNB sets the tone for the record perfectly right from the start, featuring a thick, driving sub-bass and a hard-hitting drum beat, immediately introducing Remik’s many cheeky food-based puns and double entendres. However, it’s catchy and the lyrics are delivered with a conversational confidence, leaning unapologetically into its own playful absurdity in a glorious way. The curiously titled Bitchetarian keeps the momentum going throughout, fusing a selection of bouncy synth loops with Remik’s sharp-witted lyrical humor. The track manages to keep the energy high whilst still poking fun at diet culture, carried over by a slick electro-pop framework.
Toss Your Salad is clearly full of puns, with the song seeing Remik repeating the title of the track over and over again in a sultry way. Again, it has a racing beat and an awesome bassline, making for one of the catchiest tunes on the album. Another stand-out song from the album is Balls O Meat, containing an infectious rhythm that also manages to pair some funny vocal ad-libs with a pounding four-on-the-floor beat. It’s lighthearted and deliberate, yet it’s also undeniably fun.
Kreames starts out much slower with a melancholy vibe, before introducing some drum ‘n’ bass breakbeats and alternative electronic melodies. The verses have a sort of pop-rap style, with the shifting dynamics between verse and chorus making for an interesting listen. The food theme is wearing a little thin now, but Fondue You is still well worth a listen, due to the charismatic vocals expansive synth soundscapes, perfect for singing along to live.
AllSpice changes things up a little, taking things back to the soulful pop vocals of Kreames. The song features sweeping electronic lifts, balancing the album’s comedic edge with a genuine emotional resonance for the audience. Deviled Egg strips the tempo right down, adding an unexpectedly moody atmosphere to proceedings. The vocals are stripped-back, pushing the listener closer to Remik’s musical vision, making for a complex emotional centre-point for A Baker’s Dirty Dozen.
Nacho is one of the key singles from the album, bringing the tempo back up again. It has quite a dreamy vibe, which mixes well with the house music influenced groove, creating a lush musical backdrop. Taste Bud King takes the record back down again, mixing the dynamics up well. It’s one of the album’s darker and more experimental tunes, but it still retains a catchy edge throughout.
Pound Caker starts out slowly but quickly brings the energy back up again, using a selection of sub-heavy basslines to do so. The chorus is pretty catchy too, making for a must listen tune for me. Smashburgah is another track that is simply packed to the brim with playful melodies and a driving electro-pop beat, delivering a real feel-good hit for the summer season.
Finally, we come to the final track on A Baker’s Dirty Dozen, which is Pie Me Down. I actually found myself reminded somewhat of the mid-2010s electro-pop movement, making for a slightly different sound from Remik. However, it works exceedingly well, closing things up nicely.
I’ve never been a huge fan of modern pop music but Remik Eriksen has really managed to impress me with his new album release, A Baker’s Dirty Dozen. Personality and artistic commitment are the real aim of the game here, yet it all sounds so brilliant from a production point of view too.
Social media: Facebook, Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok