KOAN Sound | Dynasty EP

Background

Another influential electronic artist duo, KOAN Sound have been producing since 2008 and, while they have yet to release a debut album, have released various EP's over the years, all of which were either released on OWSLA or Inspected, two huge electronic labels.  KOAN Sound consists of Will Weeks and Jim Bastow.  While their early sound was majorly dubstep and the like, they've since expanded and now have a very distinct blend of glitch hop, neurofunk, and drum and bass.  Whatever the technical term, it grooves, it's smooth, and it's definitively KOAN Sound.

Review

Listen to "Dynasty EP"

While it's rather short and some of the songs tend to blur together if listening in one sitting, "Dynasty EP" is by all means a fantastic EP, coming in just short of 4 million plays on SoundCloud alone.  They're well deserved; "Dynasty EP" is a wonderful compilation of KOAN Sound's recognizable glitchy, bassy funk groove, with a slight twist at the end.  The EP kicks off with "7th Dimension," a chill funk groove that sounds like if a funk band found a drum machine.  The bass has the perfect blend of crunch and smooth and combined with the vintage 80's sounds brings the funk back to life.  "Dynasty" brings us to the orient with that distinct minor tonality and stringed instruments.  If liquid was a bass, it'd be this track.  It's all over the place; it flows, it swirls, its everywhere and its nowhere.  "Infinite Funk" begins immediately with a jazzy guitar and the super clean, tight snare drum that KOAN Sound is known for.  When the beat drops, everything glitches, switches, moves, grooves, stops, starts, and just generally is all over the place.  KOAN Sound is the master of electronic glitchy funk, but for the last track, "Lost in Thought," he slows it down and instead chills out the beat and offers a reflective track that closes out the EP so perfectly.  While listening to it, I often find myself "Lost in Thought."

Bar the last track, "Dynasty EP" suffers from being too similar.  If listened to all at once, the first three tracks blend together into one big jazzy glitched bass.  I suppose it's a testament to KOAN Sound's continuity and unique style, but without any lyrics to speak of it just naturally occurs.  Yet, each track showcases KOAN Sound's perfect composition and tight mixes.  Each track is a perfect example of how a clean mix sounds and while the EP as a whole feels a little too similar, each track is a world to get lost in.  Whether it's the 80's on an alien planet or a long road through the fog, "Dynasty EP" is a great collection of tracks.  7/10

Notable Remies

Lost in Thought (Alon Mor Remix)

For an EP over a year old, I was surprisingly only able to find one remix, but I'm glad I did.  Alon Mor takes an already chill track and takes it to the next level of chill, with various ambient sounds, before bringing back the beat in a melodic dubstep fashion.  Alon Mor brings his own unique style to his dubstep rendition with his classic glitches and unrelated beats weaving in and out of the bass landscape that he's created.  It's a unique take on a unique song and it's fantastic.

Sources

Wikipedia | KOAN Sound