Taking your imagination to the heart of what a tropical Ibiza club experience might be like, Sydney-based electronic producer Kilter‘s Shades EP is an expertly produced affair, bubbling with tribal-style beats that are injected with an infectious, summery vibe.
Shades opens with They Say, immediately thrusting the listener into Kilter a.k.a. Ned East‘s fast-paced beats and island melodies, which become a recurring motif for the rest of the EP. This cut ends with mellow, R&B-style percussion, which proves a nice wind-down for the preceding pace.
When You Walked In begins with Caribbean-style percussion and from the opening bars it’s clear the upbeat vibes are out in full force. The track continues the trend established with They Say, keeping a tropical style that takes the listener to a hot summer dance party in some exotic part of the world.
Watch: Kilter feat Citizen Kay – Alive Again
Meanwhile, a smooth hip-hop influence swims all over Alive Again. At first, Citizen Kay’s vocal contribution gives the track a different sonic palette to the rest of the EP, but the familiar steel drum soon slides its way in and the track continues to engross the listener in those warm atmospherics. However, Kay still manages to take this track to another level with his effortless rhymes.
Sydney-by-way-of-Papua New Guinea future-soul talent Ngaiire lends her warm, buttery vocals to Coward, which showcases yet another slice of expertly crafted production from Kilter, immediately followed by the smooth-as-silk All You Want, which features Sydney crooner Ev Jones on vocals.
Shades is an accomplished and modern offering that establishes Kilter as an exceptional Australian electronic producer. His mastery of atmospherics and sharp percussive instincts, along with his now-trademark use of the steel drum have helped the young muso explore new parameters for dance music Down Under.
Kilter’s ‘Shades’ EP is out this Friday, 11th July – pre-order it on iTunes now.
