EP Review: HotKid – Downtown

HotKid is the creative vision of Canadian producer, songwriter, and guitarist Shiloh Harrison. Along with Harrison, the EP features Jesse Bellon on guitar, Andrew DeVillers on bass, and Mike McKeever on drums.  The full-band tracks were recorded live off the floor at the National Music Centre’s Studio Bell in Calgary.

This new EP has a gorgeous, intimate feel. The title track, ‘Downtown,’ sounds so fresh, recorded live. Shiloh Harrison’s effortless vocals sound, at first, at odds with the loose distortion of the guitars, yet it all just works—it always has for Hotkid. It’s like a messy sonic whirlwind, with McKeever keeping things grounded with his bass drum at the centre, keeping things calm.

‘Naked’ delivers more of this band’s mature songwriting brilliance. They do so much with so little; it’s a subtle change to the guitar strumming or Harrison’s delivery. Things get a bit hectic right before the solo, but the shoegazing element is quickly restored after a drenching of feedback notes.

Still, those drums keep everything rooted as the band sits right on the knife edge of controlled chaos. They are tight, but it doesn’t seem to be at first glance. The guitars are playfully playful, such as in the driving chorus of ‘All Time,’ with Harrison turning slightly manic.

Ending on what I don’t say lightly as one of the best acoustic versions of a track I have heard in a long, long time. It allows the brilliant lyrics to be heard over the big open chords. A nice proper, sounding acoustic has always been one of my favourite sounds and recorded live at the House of Miracles in Cambridge, ON, it sounds just about perfect. Featuring Shiloh Harrison on guitar and vocals and Andrew DeVillers on baritone acoustic and vocals.

There’s nothing new to female-fronted bands. There’s not enough, but there’s nothing new. HotKid has been doing this for a while now yet still manages to sound vibrant and exciting. You could be forgiven for thinking this is a debut EP, such is the energy level. Harrison is very much underappreciated for what she does with this band.

Check out the single Downtown, below:

Find out more via the bands Website

Stream Download the EP here