Achieving a rather intoxicating blend of retro tones and pure creative euphoria, Australian producer Kraken Kramer delivers an impressively distinct and evocative realm of escapism, across a growing repertoire of original dance tracks.
Presenting by way of nostalgic tones and refreshingly thoughtful, often long-form and emotionally loaded chord progressions, the music feels like an hypnotic wave of realism, something like humanity and playful electronic design seamlessly intertwined.
As an example, the intriguing title of ADHD Everywhere. is backed up by an all-consuming electronic arrangement – just short of four minutes of soulful, meandering and ever-changing playfulness, and always with reason, intention, and a certain provocative, occasionally heart-breaking mood.
Set-up-wise there’s a subtle fusion of traits and genres found throughout Kraken Kramer’s music. What feels like simple electronica later evolves into alternative dance, but there are also hints of ska, RnB, synthpop, and other genres, all scattered throughout each mix. There’s even a mildly tribal aura to ADHD Everywhere., and perhaps the ever-changing landscape of the music is a fine encapsulation of the depths of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder itself. In any case, it’s a captivating and genuinely moving listen, and it marks a fine introduction to the skill, artistry, and meaning of all things Kraken Kramer.
Next we enter a more old-school kind of four-to-the-floor disco vibe, still mellow and contemplative, but a little more uplifting in its sense of groove and these cascading, siren-like moments of urgency. Hometown Vibe is an EDM track with a subtle blending of familiarity and freshness at its core, and the sound of the keys, the chaos and calm united, all lets the music capture attention and provide that essential escapism from the outside world.
The consistency of EDM is a key aspect, alongside the playfulness, and I think the track Frequency captures the value of that quite beautifully. Here we get a multitude of finely placed layers, rhythms, tones, moments, some distorted and some clean. And all the while, the music gathers subtle momentum, a sense of rising anticipation amidst these warped and changing intricacies, all building towards a soulful glimmer of human voice, and another late-night nostalgic embrace that’s deeply comforting to let ring out at volume.
The music is gorgeous, but also provocative as ever, and that nuance, that modest level of intelligence and direction, is all central to the unmistakable style of Kraken Kramer.
“..and connect us with a higher realm… society is being kept at a lower vibrational state… and maintain control over our collective consciousness…”
Finally, a touch of acoustic charm, an exotic bounce of a groove, with organic audience soundbites and an upbeat pulse driving things forward. Ants in ya Pants is colourful, playful, free from the confines of genre or expectation, and highlights the skilful panning, craftwork and mixing of Kraken Kramer, with dashes of distortion, guitar-like bends, and unpredictable shifts in the very make up and mood of the music. This atmospheric listen keeps you on your toes, and is again incredibly original and distinct, almost tribal-futuristic, in its representation of Kraken Kramer’s sound.
Melodic instrumental dance music with self-expression, story and sentiment all carefully woven in. Kraken Kramer gifts us the timeless euphoric uplift of EDM, and makes sure to bridge potential gaps with character, meaning, and creative momentum. As such, his catalogue of original music is enchanting to let rain down at volume, providing both delicacy and depth, darkness and light, intermittently, as the creativity and detail, the evolution and weight, slowly but surely rise.
Find Kraken Kramer on Soundcloud & X.
