Kirk Spencer - Kingdom

​Kingdom begins with a slow start, with the cries of Tiger Lilly echoing high above the softened beat, and it is a little too sedate to begin with, sounding like it would fit better somewhere towards the end of the release. But the EP certainly has a spiritual feel; its oriental keys and iridescent timbres that breathe and dissipate with incense textures summon zen-like imagery, and certain moments such as in “Pain Drift” have a meditative aspect.

The epitome of this quality is perhaps “Primrose”, the fourth and strongest track on the record. Its staccato droplets bounce with the force of the bass that has a trap-style sass. Indeed, the whole EP has elements of trap but isn’t nearly as monotonous as some examples of the genre can be, thanks to its thoughtful blending and variety of soundscapes. The way “Primrose” fades from the dark, ‘dutty’ synths to its idyllic, almost psychedelic outro is genius, and adds a new perspective on the song’s motif of “nobody haunts me like you do”.

“Blue Skys”, featuring the swoons of Tiffani Juno, probably has the most potential for commercial success in today’s musical climate, although it does leave something desired when compared to the other tracks on the release in terms of variety and catchy hooks. The closing track, “And Swim”, sounds like a darker and more urban take on the first Volcano Choir album, and its last half provides the most atmospheric offering of the EP by far; its closing scintillating guitar textures and chord progressions capture light on water faultlessly.