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For those that hanker for the heady days of early Hyperdub, Kode 9, Space Ape etc, Kassian have gradients to bring the sound up-to-date!
London duo Kassian trade darkness for daylight on ‘Gradients’, their third EP for !K7 and a bridge between last year's debut album and a new live show and second LP due in 2027.
As Kassian, Warren Cummings and Joe Danvers continue to sit apart from any one scene, their fruitful relationship with !K7 has spanned eclectic and globally minded club cuts, including the spatial breaks and bass of 2024's best-selling Supercontinent EP. Their 2025 album, Channels, emerged from lockdown and consequently leaned slow, downtempo and introspective. ‘Gradients’ points towards a clubbier, more physical direction.
‘Gradients’ is built for the floor without playing to trends and marks some of the duo's most melodic work to date. Rather than sitting purely in heads-down territory, the EP brings in hooks and vocal fragments that lift you out of the smoke and shadows. The low end is rooted in techno, with potent drums and bass, but vocal hooks and subtle melodies bring a brightness that steers away from the darker, meaner aesthetic dominating much of dance music right now. 'Blush' rides in warm with soft yet bold melodic riffs, looping in arcs over a hunched, speedy tech house groove. 'Inner Dance', with its lurching drums, cavernous rhythm and vocals, makes a playful nod to sound system culture, while 'Ritmo' is a more muscular bouncer with spring-loaded bass. Closer 'Sweat' is the bubbliest cut, with a tight techno low end infused with a velvety vocal.
The ‘Gradients EP’ is a bright, hardware-built prelude to Kassian's next chapter. It's a well-crafted four-tracker that pairs physical weight with classy emotional release.
BUY LINK / Vinyl Pre-Order: Gradients EP | Kassian
e & Felmann,Funky Love EPThe Disco Express,
Artist: Kassian
Title: Gradients EP
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