Review: Joe Goddard - "Kinetic" EP
Image credit: Louise Mason
A respected and reliable name in the UK indie, electronic and dance scenes, Joe Goddard reveals another layer of his stratified production mind with the MC-laden EP, Kinetic, released in early May.
Here we see the electro aficionado host a dream selection of collaborating artists, similar to previous projects. On this instance, his proven record of birthing basslines gives us 5 tracks, 4x4s to fill the floor, 3 MC features and a post punk duo all firing off in this one extraordinary siege of UKG.
This EP showcases Joe’s arsenal of bass weaponry armoured by rich talent - comrades in MC Dynamite, SUKU, Pinty, Technology + Teamwork and ABSOLUTE.
Previously released as a single, ’Image and Style’ starts us off. A track casting the four horsemen of bassline drops, wrestled by tag team MC Dynamite and SUKU (of Jamaica’s dancehall group, Ward 21).
The battleground is laid out with a raw and raggedy breakbeat where, in the first bout, this dancefloor simmering bass rhythm is well managed by SUKU of Ward 21.
Second drop gets dangerous, ignites the place.
Calm but tempered, Dynamite comes in, repping himself lyrically, reassuringly taming the building bassline barrage.
Third drop bounces in with uncouth behaviour, but it’s a breeze for charisma-overflowing SUKU.
Dynamite sprays on a bouncy yet wonky fourth drop, a ruckus, an intensity laced in an acid fade out.
MCs Dynamite and SUKU know they’re hopping on an audacious track, but the room is theirs, you can only imagine the state of the studio after this one was wrapped up.
Next we have ‘Ace’, light-stepping wordsmith Pinty and Joe’s own vocals paint a beautiful, moment-capturing electronic ballad. Joe’s vocals offer encouraging words, a promise of amelioration. The South London MC touches on poignant emotions with Goddard’s chiming backdrop instrumentals. It feels like a continuation of his previous album, Harmonics, the melancholic collection of digital harmonies. There’s a similar deep theme of coming-to-terms with hardship.
Exactly midway through the release and here Goddard directly tackles garage on ‘Flex’ , with typical beat cuts spliced by choppy effects and a flirtation of basslines; gritty sub, snarls and growls.
An order to “Flex……Now….” repeats throughout. Accepting the demand, the listener falls into a euphoric break in the song, SUKU’s comforting reintroduction leads to a “CAW”…
Then, pandemonium.
Dowsed in ad libs, the MC calms the mayhem, “Everybody keep your eyes upon the stage”.
With this one, you do as you’re told.
The rapper coaches us through; one can only imagine pounding his chest along to the rhythm. Another spiralling “CAW” and we are dropped into disorderly amalgamation of instrumentals, chopping unpredictably until the oddly enjoyable turmoil comes to a steady end.
To create such organised chaos truly exemplifies Goddard’s gift in production.
Joe brings in track 4, with long term colleagues, post punk duo Technology + Teamwork. A stomping 808 leads a procession of sultry vocals, the chorus another plucky demand, perhaps a behind-closed-doors request to “Come Get It”. Admittedly, by the third chorus, it is harmonically enticing.
The one MC-less track, closes off this project with a healthy exchange with ABSOLUTE. The Brit sensation joins arms with Joe for a 3-minute revolving 303 exploration.
Squiggling through an acid airspace, drifting then winding into a blackhole of a mean, rebellious bassline. A face-melting reverberating 808, abrupt ‘Heys’ and the Brit producer’s vocals convoy you to this climax then, a nebula. This pure acid house bassline, rattles right through until the 303 trails out.
And silence.
The bassline siege has cleared and the battle is won. With Goddard heading the army into this UKG battleground, you always had trust in your brother in arms.
This EP, Kinetic, is yet another dance music medal of honour on the veteran producer’s lapel.
Written by Brandon Purmessur
Brandon is a music journalist in Bristol who enjoys writing as well as hosting radio shows and video interviews. Beyond music, he enjoys working with the community and learning about other cultures.
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