Kite Club’s debut EP Esoterica is a surreal experience that envelopes the listener in a miasma of wistful pop melodies that are deliciously avant garde in their construction. Nicholas D. Futcher, the young musical mind behind Kite Club, has created a sound that is similar to the likes of Dirty Projectors and Wild Beasts with a heavenly, operatic feel to the music.
Esoterica is a joyous affair that offers a feast for the ears with the intricate layered sounds and soaring falsetto vocals. First track Going Swimming is a grand introduction into the flamboyant world of Futcher. Featuring a hypnotic piano rhythm and ethereal floating vocals that actually make you feel like you’re listening to the track underwater. Futcher’s vocal work is highly theatrical and a delight to listen to, particularly on Royal Gums where he pushes the boundaries of his range with a multitude of high pitched cry’s that are intertwined with a dreamy backdrop of synthetic noise. My Machines is unapologetic pop paradise with a toe tapping drum line and more of the fantastic falsetto harmonies that are a signature of Kite Club’s sound. Final track Downstairs ends Esoterica on a mellow note, a gorgeous mournful ballad that offers a stark contrast the overwhelming bubbly happiness of the rest of the EP.
Kite Club are a weird and wondrous delight who make music that perfectly captures the spirit of summertime with Futcher’s blissful harmonies. The Esoterica EP is a grandiose offering that is sure to appeal to the senses of sound hedonists everywhere, with the rich, layered arrangements that are both clever and fun.
Review Score: 8/10
