Review: "Arepa" Album by KS
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Los Angeles based musician and filmmaker KS deftly blends a vast selection of styles in a psychedelic fashion with the celebratory energy of “Arepa”. The mixture of electro, dance, rock, funk, and pop works wonders as it swirls together in its sly, limber grooves. Melodies radiate such tremendous color and there is a celebratory spirit within each track. Layers intermingle, woven together in such a careful yet simultaneously carefree fashion. Never rushing things, atmosphere proves to be of the utmost importance for the way it rolls through feels fantastic.
References abound, but KS’s style shares an affinity for slow-moving mid-fi funk jams like Com Truise’s flawlessly sculpted fat basslines. Everything about the album has an almost nostalgic cadence to it, for the meshing of rock and electronic structures means that it does not comfortably fit in either category, but instead has a hybrid-like tact. With this sort of nod, KS also brings a bit of Justice’s messy approach into the fray for the distortion is laid on pretty thick at times featuring some truly joyous moments that shine in such a clear, lovely, lilting way.
The catchy riffs of “Mind’ set the tone for the rest of the album featuring an exquisite hook that constantly evolves. A spaced-out electro vibe rests at the core of the vast sweeps of “Engel”. “Vox” features a fantastic little beat workout as the song churns and contorts in fantastically gorgeous ways. Surrealist delay and tonal decay add to the tactile percussion on the infinitely stylish “Montuno” easily the highlight of the entire journey.
Jazzy accents reign supreme over “Control”. Layer upon layer filters into the fray on the elastic tempos of “Centipede” where various disembodied vocals give the song a gleeful, almost Dan Deacon-like ethos. Beats go for a giddy spirit with the jubilant “Romp”. Sprawling and spacious “Huevon” offers satisfyingly sweet breakdowns as the song unfurls letting its freak flag fly. Quite ambitious in nature, the whole of the album comes to the fantastic conclusion on the reflective “Mess”.
The “Arepa” album shows off KS’s sun-drenched style, a gorgeous set that creates a whole mood one that has a tremendous sense of warmth to it.