By using mechanised beats and reverbed sounds to open this EP, KiKi Holli + The Remedy immediately advertise an interest in taking their audience somewhere that feels a little detached. There’s very little that’s organic about the sound, but in this case “detached” doesn’t mean “cold”. As the first couple of verses of ‘Something About You’ play out, it becomes clear that this number’s music draws from different sources, but pretty much exists in its own world. The rhythms of this track call back to the trip hop movement of the 90s; the sparsely applied electric guitar chords – chopping with a sharp edge, but never feeling intrusive – lend more of a film score quality, leaning towards a couple of 90s Bond themes, but in contrast, Holli’s lead vocal takes on a smooth presence, crying each line as if drowning in a soul/R&B arrangement. …And it’s that voice that helps this to really shine, and also to invite the audience deeper into the band’s world, even at times when the music might seem a little more aloof. This takes several plays before it’s true magic shines through, but at the point where things start to click, chances are, the listener will consider Holli’s vocal style incredibly alluring, and want to hear more. Potentially much more.
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In their original incarnation, reggae-ska-punk band Sublime left the world with two excellent albums – 1992’s ‘40oz To Freedom’ and 1996’s ‘Sublime’. Between these two essentials, the sketchier ‘Robbin’ The Hood’ presented some great tracks, but lacked the momentum of the other records, with the more obviously finished material joined by narrative skits and acoustic pieces. For the more patient fan, it actually offered a broader insight into how the band worked; never beholden to one style, Bud, Eric and Bradley were always keen to experiment.