DREAMKIDS - DREAMKIDS (EP Review)

 

The Kilmarnock based husband and wife duo, bring an injection of grunge, emo and punk with their self titled debut EP and it is one that you can really get your teeth into with its raw energy and intense sound.  Throughout lockdown in 2020 the duo continued writing and creating music and when lockdown eased in summer 2020 the pair traveled to Chem19 recording studio to record and mix their debut EP with Jamie Savage (The Twilight Sad, King Creosote, Miaoux Miaoux).  The EP was then mastered by Luis Bonilla and Mandy Parnell at Black Saloon Studios in London.

Kicking off the EP is 'Only God Knows If My God Is Real' a high energy track that brings thick guitars layered with a huge drums that accompanies an almost operatic vocal style performance that pulls you right in.  Lyrically the track reflects on the recent Australian bush fires as well as other topics such as environmental and societal issues.  This track sets the tone for the what to expect from the rest of the EP, the guitar leads tracks driving the rhythm and pushing out those intense sounds whilst the lyrics grip you with their passion.  There is an atmosphere generated from this track,  the energy feels upbeat however underpinned with deep emotions and an almost anxious feeling. 

'Stay Safe With Me' still delivers on those grungy rock elements from the heavy guitars, with a pop element intertwined between the rhythm giving it a lighter feel from the reverb drenched guitar melody heard at the beginning and throughout the track.  The vocals fit in perfectly with the rugged yet smooth instrumentation in this song and it is one that you will keep coming back to.  'I C U' is similar to 'Stay Safe With Me' in terms of that pop element, the heavier rock side and the fierce energy is still there with the intense moments from the guitars and drums.  Countered with some softer melodic moments that lift the track up from the depths throughout, however they throw you back into the raw sound which has become the signature sound of these guys. 

'Child' slows the energy down and the duo bring an atmospheric instrumental that is filled with beautifully eerie sounds, the delay on the guitar builds from a delicate sound into an emotional climax that just seems to hit you all at once, no lyrics, no spoken story, just a haunting musical arrangement that brings you right into its embrace.  

'Mother' is the last track bringing the curtains down on this incredible EP in style, again the heightened emotions grip you as soon as this track plays and you are completely caught up in everything that this track is offering.  From the delayed drenched guitars that are building the atmosphere, to the vocals that bring all the emotions to the forefront and the crunchy guitars that bring the track to a heart wrenching climax.  

Everything about this EP is emotionally gripping both instrumentally and lyrically.  You can feel the passion throughout and it eminates from every corner.  One thing that is always a joy to hear is when artists take their passion and inject it into the entire body of their work, it reflects not only within the lyrics and the story being told but within the instrumentation, the atmosphere to just the overall emotion of the tracks and these guys have delivered, they take you on the journey with them allowing you to fall completely in.  If I were you I would definitely keep Dreamkids on your radar! 

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