Kudu Blue’s New EP ‘Are You With Me?’ Out Today
April 3, 2020 BY Nettwerk
“…the electronic collective bind together club elements, fusing them into melodic bursts of digitised pop.”- Clash
“Kudu Blue are riding a new wave of retro-fitted dance music.” – Mixmag
Rising Brighton-based quartet Kudu Blue have today release their fabulous new EP Are You With Me? on Nettwerk Records. It’s a collection of six songs which present a band untethered to one genre, rather the sound of Kudu Blue is a specific atmosphere: a tone, a feeling. It’s that thing you’re going to put on when the laptop swings your way at the after-party — best enjoyed with friends, or even in those intimate moments when you’re thinking about someone close, wondering how they feel, what they mean to you, and what life is all about.
Lead single “Somebody To” leans into that darker side, bringing together the dusk-touched yet strobe-lit sound of trance, with a nod to 90s acid house through the use of a Roland TB-303 bass synthesiser that underpins the track. The song was play listed by Radio 1 as their BBC Introducing Track of the Week, receiving prominent spins from the likes of Nick Grimshaw, Scott Mills, Clara Amfo and more. It also received support from Lauren Laverne on BBC 6 Music.
Follow-up single and title track “Are You With Me?” is a crucial stepping-stone for the group too. “It’s the first one we all wrote together and realised this is the sound we wanted to go for the new EP,” says singer Clem. An instant grab with its strong hook, it touches on that all important, universal feeling of not knowing where you stand when entering a new relationship.
On the track “Healthy,” it’s here where you really get a sense of Kudu Blue’s knack for stitching together genres, stepping across various stones to their own special island. With hints of influence from the likes of Flying Lotus and Lapalux it’s the low-key, heady partner to the previous two singles. It’s also a lot lighter too, hence the name.
Elsewhere, across the EP’s six tracks, you’re getting nods to 90’s UK garage (“When The Night Is Over”), and contemporary, atmospheric yet danceable artists like Fatima Yamaha and Thom Yorke (“Room For Love”). Meanwhile “Senses” sees the band at their most intricate and delicate, slowly building the tension to a crushing, emotional crescendo.
It’s been a hugely productive past 18 months for Kudu Blue having also released the genre-defying EP Auras back in early 2019, played major events such as Glastonbury, BBC Introducing Live and toured with the likes of Tennyson and Vök.
Made up of Clem (vocals), Owen (keys), Tom (bass) and Creeda (rhythms), Kudu Blue give you a refreshing snapshot of contemporary music in the UK, a back to basics postcard from the underground club scene. Their distinctly fresh sounds combine to bring on a new wave of progressive UK modern dance-pop, has seen them gain media fans over the last couple of years, including The Line of Best Fit, Wonderland, Complex, Clash, Pigeons & Planes and BBC radio DJs Lauren Laverne, Huw Stephens, Jamz Supernova, etc. Their sound encompasses influence from across both time and space. From 90’s trip-hop & sound system culture, all the way through to Buddhist chanting, and back around to old skool hip-hop & R&B.
