Continuing his endlessly creative exploration of sound and feeling, French producer Kidokami delivers a full-length project of uniquely enchanting originals, as the aptly-titled album Wild.
White Woods kicks off the alliterated collection with a mellow rise up from atmospheric details to stylishly meandering bass and powerful rhythms.
Structurally unique as ever, the track builds and builds, not succumbing to expectation but showcasing a sense of growing anticipation and journey throughout. The venture of Wild in full plays further into this approach, balancing subtle delicacies with hits of sheer drama, emotion and energy.
The album’s title-track adopts a sense of urgency in stark contrast to the opener, displaying Kidokami’s fine fusion of organic stylings and electronic experimentation to a boldly captivating degree. Soon we get a good use of contrast, hints of melody, world music elements intertwined with cinematic presence. Ultimately an addictive dance-ready composition but one of fearlessly original make up.
Already the work is unlike anything else around this year, and increasingly the embrace of Wild promises to elevate listeners to thought-provoking yet euphoric realms.
Creative bass-work proves a strong calling card of the Kidokami sound, as does organic instrumentation on the whole – piano echoes through for a compelling Wrath, and later a cascading world of distortion and softness charmingly intertwined.
Afterwards, originality shines in melody on top of style, as Wolflike presents a fresh story and sentiment that’s loaded with individuality. Pairing industrial weight with contemplative quietness, the piece quickly shifts the mood of the room.
During the latter half, melodic warmth and increasing excitement offer up an aptly-named Waterfall, somewhat retro in its happy-hardcore build-up and mellow eighties rhythm and space. Then War Of Wits takes contrast to greater heights still, with a back and forth that again brilliantly connects with the implications of the title.
For Wander, we’re propelled into a blissfully beautiful arena of contemplation and depth. The mind appropriately wanders, the music guides, and the flow of the whole piece proves gorgeously hypnotic. A definite highlight, deeply moving and addictive to relax into.
Bringing things to a close is the considerately crafted piece Whispers, offering unusual melodic development once again, and slowly pouring through with an almost live-style piano-lead that feels as if it’s right there in the room with you.
Versatile as ever, interesting yet immersive and familiar enough to hold tightly to that audience connection – Wild showcases the very best of the Kidokami artistic approach. It makes for an exotic, unpredictable yet rewarding listen.
Check out Kidokami on Soundcloud, Twitter & Instagram.
