Bristol, UK. A breeding ground of Electronic and Dance music. The city, located in South-West England, is known for throwing some of the best parties in the world and being home to some of the globe’s biggest Dance music producers and DJs. Artists like Eats Everything (check out a cool video of how he came to be HERE), Addison Groove, Breach, Danny Byrd, Julio Bashmore, Riva Starr, Massive Attack, Lee Burridge, Dodge & Fuski, and plenty more all saw their start in Bristol. Know who else did? KOAN Sound. The pair, consisting of Will Weeks and Jim Bastow, were recognized by Skrillex for their unique and polished sound and signed to his label OWSLA, launching them into a world of touring and record release after record release. Today, April 1, KOAN Sound released their effort called the Dynasty EP.
I know KOAN Sound for their unique Glitch sound and the Dynasty EP certainly delivers plenty of that. The four-track release spans just under 20 minutes and KOAN Sound’s press release writes, “The EP’s lush atmospheric soundscapes will undoubtedly enrapture both critics and fans alike, while the duo’s ever-sophisticated signature Funkstep, which belies Glitch, 70s Funk and Bass, will set feet in motion.” To me, Dynasty has two halves. The first half, containing the title track “Dynasty”, sounds like two tracks I’d pin as KOAN Sound productions without knowing who produced them – plenty of Glitch and Funkstep throughout. The second half of the EP contains songs with live instrumentation and brings artists like STS9 and Lotus to mind. “Infinite Funk” contains an awesome slap-Bass line under some Glitchy overtones – Funky as hell! – while “Lost in Thought” is a very mellow track with female vocals samples and a Break Beat.
Overall the EP is very well constructed and gives music fans an understanding an appreciation of KOAN Sound’s wide range of talents. You can pick up the EP over at iTunes by clicking HERE.
Additionally, you can catch the boys on tour this Spring with Bass Music party-starter Minnesota. The tour kicks off right here in Boston at the Middle East and continues through:
4/23 Portland, ME Port City
4/24 Pittsburgh, PA The Rex
4/25 Austin, TX Euphoria Fest*
4/26 Newark, DE University of Delaware (daytime show)
4/26 Philadelphia, PA District N9ne
4/29 Madison, WI Segredo
4/30 Lincoln, NE Bourbon Theater
5/1 Grand Rapids, MI Intersection
5/2 Detroit, MI Elektricity
5/3 Minneapolis, MN The Loft
5/7 Vancouver, BC Celebs
5/8 Victoria, BC 9one9
5/9 San Francisco, CA 1015 Folsom
5/10 Chicago, IL Concord*
5/14 Seattle, WA Foundation
5/15 Phoenix, AZ Monarch Theater*
5/16 Los Angeles, CA Avalon
5/17 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater
5/21 Virginia Beach, VA Peabodys
5/22 Washington, DC The Howard
5/23 New York, NY Webster Hall
5/24 Chilicothe, IL Summercamp*
5/25 Tampa Bay, FL Sunset Music Fest
*Minnesota not on these dates
