Keys N Krates - A Beat Tape For Your Friends

Keys N Krates

A Beat Tape For Your Friends

2019

Spotify

Keys N Krates have always been a bit too EDM, a bit to dubby for my liking. That is why when I saw my guy and hip hop producer Jansport J featured on the only single off of this Tape I was a bit taken aback. My boy is traveling up to Toronto to make EDM with the dub kings of the north? Well much to my surprise it seems Jansport has had a bit more influence on this record than I thought, because it is absolutely wonderful. Keys N Krates sound the absolute warmest they ever have. Bright disco, fun Hip hop and everything in between all wrapped up in this wonderful summer bow. If you're looking for a soundtrack to your summer activities than this is the album for you. No lyrics mean you can put this on in the background while people chat or turn it up and get the fucking dance floor moving. They employ so many of my favorite bits of EDM like on "Celebrash" where they bounce from a hip hop beat into some kind of old school Porter Robinson vocal drop. "Summers End" employs some of those same tones, but instead of leaning into the electronics Keys N Krates wisely give it more air and a more analogue feel. The album cruises rather than sprint, you can feel the ease that this music embodies at each and every turn. The boldness of previous albums is almost stripped away, rounded out and relaxed to allow for more space and more of a flowing quality to the music. There are no drops, no builds, just easy beats that find their way into your head and then never leave. 

At the end of the day this record just encapsulates fun. It's your friends hanging out and having a good time, dancing to some sweet tunes. If that was their goal than they achieved it in spades, if it wasn't than what a happy accident has befallen us. Don't sleep on this one your next party will surely suffer if you do. 

8.3 out of 10