Bass
April: 7 bass & club releases you need to hear this month
Kelly Lee Owens, Botaz, W3C and more
Doon Kanda 'Heart' (Hyperdub)
Jesse Kanda, the prolific artist and Arca collaborator, finds a home for his first musical release on Hyperdub under the name Doon Kanda. The label is known for creating its own definition of club music that effortlessly ties in leftfield experimental sounds and stylings, so it’s a fitting match for Kanda, whose distinctive videos and sculptures defy any genres or boundaries.
‘Heart’ is bright and mostly upbeat, but blisteringly so, like fresh snow in direct sunlight. Album opener ‘Axolotl’, Kanda says, is “like a chant for giving it your best try”; the melodies grind together but are nevertheless inspiring and sound like a much-improved Crystal Castles beat. Mid-record cut ‘Wings’ shifts vantage points with gorgeous instrumental echoes, a sonic carnival that has the potential to sound menacing but feels genuine in its oddness. ‘Feline’ paces back and forth like a trapped animal, but in the time signature of a waltz – like Kanda’s art, it’s exquisite but innately jarring.
8/10
