Kid Adrift - Oxytocin EP

I’m sure that there are many who will be ready and willing to correct me on this but I’ve never thought of Clackmannanshire as a hot bed of music. Well, not until now anyway, as Kid Adrift have changed that.

The Oxytocin EP is something of a manifesto statement from Iain Archer, the man who essentially is Kid Adrift. Title track Oxytocin is a swirl of industrial drum beats and electronic orchestra with some rather worrying emoish lyrics over the top. The track stops and starts which means that, as the listener, you never feel fully settled and comfortable with where the song is taking you before exploding at the end into a anthematic crescendo. More programmed industrial beats feature prominatly on Crash Therapy and I’m left wondering if I’m listening to a man on the verge of some sort of breakdown or on the edge of a breakthrough of epic proportions. A lovely violin section towards the end of the track adds atmosphere and a feeling of edgeness to the track.

The closing track on the EP, Static sounds a little like a Muse track on speed. Looping piano mixed with Dub Step breaks and the kind of flashes and probes that Liam Howlett has made a living from makes for an intense listen.

Oxytocin is a great EP, never one to put on as you try to drift off to sleep but one that will definitely get you up and out of bed in the morning. For me Crash Therapy is a stand out track as it pulsates and pushes away at the listener. Kid Adrift are a unique force and a clear example of where electronic music should be moving.