EP REVIEW: Boy Kid Cloud – A Better Version of Me

Melodic vocals meets thundering basslines and harsh synth sounds in this, the new release from Boy Kid Cloud. Artist behind the mayhem, Darryl Reid manages to mix chaotic, thundering basswork with melodic vocal tracks in this EP, ambitiously entitled A Better Version of Me.

Apparently Reid used to play music in a Radiohead-type band, a style that couldn’t be further away from this type of music that Reid is making now. Maybe the title is his way of saying that this is better music than he used to produce. Well, it’s certainly different than Radiohead, right from the beginning. Mixing Plan B styled vocal work (high pitched, melodic and borderline soulful) with thudding basslines and uplifting synth sounds not unlike the style produced by long haired dubstep maestro Skrillex is the general way to sum up this EP. It works surprisingly well together as well. Those really are the only two elements to the music to talk about here. It’s pure and simple, and that’s good.

It’s hard to say where the true talent in this release really lays – the music or the vocals. Both are equally interesting to listen to, and it’s a refreshing take on the dance/dubstep genre, moving it away from the grimey club image that it currently has and pushing it into more of an actual ‘about the music’ area. It’s fair to say that it’s the vocals doing this to the music, the singing is great, but the fact that the hefty dance tracks are both just as talented and created by the same person, makes it seem a lot less harsh and grimey. In a nutshell, both elements complement each other very well, and work very well together.

There are a couple of issues, though. Whilst both elements of the music work well with each other, neither of them will be to everyone’s tastes. It’ll either be the vocal work, or the dubstep-style music that some people won’t like, and some people just plain won’t like either. It’s an acquired taste, for sure.

So overall, both of the elements of the music successfully fuse together to work remarkably well in perfect harmony. Mixing Plan B-esque singing with Skrillex style bass and drums creates a wonderful and atmospheric synthesis. It’s not without its issues, but that’s the same as any other music. On the whole, a great and refreshing release, and Boy Kid Cloud is an artist to keep an eye on.