Randomer - Kids Play

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  • Over the past few years, Rohan Walder, AKA Randomer, quietly became one of the most interesting producers in the UK. From his early bass mutations on labels like Numbers and Hemlock, to overlooked techno stormers like last year's "Stupid Things I Do," to Residents, his excellent first appearance on L.I.E.S. (the label's first from a UK artist), his sound has steadily developed and picked up steam, growing more eccentric and assured with each release. Now he returns to L.I.E.S. with what might be his most out-there record yet, Kids Play. The five-track EP is a gallery of sun-dappled, post-tribal beat workouts, with the focus on groove and timbre. The sounds are exceptionally clear and visual—it's hard not to picture drum circles in the jungle—and the beats are artfully composed, with dense and kaleidoscopic arrangements. Though each track draws from the same palette, there's a nice range of energy across the record. "Dem Thing" and "Brutus" are noisy bangers. "Kids Play" and "Juju" are more delicate, though still a bit of a headfuck. "Bell Jam," for me, is the pick of the litter. It's lush and hypnotic, with an offbeat groove that's pleasantly disorienting. Kids Play is more an accomplishment of production than songwriting. It lacks the head-turning quality of Randomer tracks like "Bring," "Huh" or "Stupid Things I Do." But in a way that feels appropriate for L.I.E.S., showing an exploratory side of Walder that only makes his talent seem more rich.
  • Tracklist
      A1 Kids Play A2 Juju B1 Bell Jam B2 Brutus B3 Dem Thing
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