Birmingham-based producer, multi-instrumentalist and drummer Kai Moa steps into the spotlight with his debut EP, Some of My Best Friends Are…Electric Sheep. It’s fair to say that the EP is a fairly unique proposition. It contains a grand total of four songs that draw from Moa’s deeply eclectic background, spanning genres such as jazz, punk, post-rock and house music. This is the sort of record that thrives on being different, creating an intoxicating tension through the use of digital precision, industrial soundscapes and a raw sense of musicianship. Let’s jump straight in…
By Jane Howkins
What It Is sets the discordant tone of the EP perfectly when it kicks in, acting as an uncompromising opening statement that drags the listener straight into the dystopian, industrial environment Kai has created. A set of glitchy, disjointed rhythms clash in cosmic style, before the track miraculously pivots into a set of expansive jazz piano chords, changing things up in an unpredictable way. What It Is ultimately culminates in a relentless, dark techno climax, sounding perfectly produced throughout.
(Sea) starts out remarkably differently from the previous song, shifting gears somewhat. Instead, we’re left with a deeper, more ambient sound, acting as a breathtaking palette cleanser in-between songs. It’s much calmer, as Kai uses the spacious electronic production available to him to wash over the listener, demonstrating an acute awareness of the importance of breathing room.
L = ∅ is the next curiously titled tune on Some of My Best Friends Are…Electric Sheep, leaning heavily into intricate IDM (Intelligent Dance Music) structures. It’s one of the most experimental songs on the EP (which is saying something!), but it also has a subtle beauty to it, as it balances mathematical precision with a shifting percussion style, keeping you hooked throughout.
Finally, we come to closing song 0%. It seems only right that the grand finale of such an EP is an expansive and hypnotic journey, showcasing a clear sense of ambient depth. The tune starts out slowly but it never becomes too much, instead bringing the project’s various stylistic threads together into a cohesive and immersive whole.
Some of My Best Friends Are…Electric Sheep is a remarkably assured debut from Kai Moa that proves that electronic experimentation doesn’t have to sacrifice emotion to be intellectually stimulating. Kai’s music clearly won’t be for everyone, but if I’m being perfectly honest, I doubt he’s making music to please large swathes of the population. However, if you’re happy to try something new, then this could be right up your alley.
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