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Review: Keyboard Kid - The Transition [EP]

Donkey Pitch // "A talented musician / producer and a leader in his genre, Keyboard Kid has released something unique, impressive and memorable&a

by Hellseybell, October 26th, 2012 and has been Read 420 times.
Last Edited by: Chris MUG5 Maguire October 27th, 2012.

Keyboard Kid has been at the front of the based movement, with his instrumentals providing the backdrop for cult rapper Lil B. The Seattle-based artist has spent a lot of the last few years creating tracks and sharing them for free on his Bandcamp page. The Transition EP is Keyboard Kid’s first official release, with the 5 tracks described as “hyper-charged synth workouts, off-the-grid hip hop and computer techno” released by the Brighton-based record label Donkey Pitch.

‘Welcome X’ is best described as a headache. Throbbing beats, chipmunk vocals and a skittering drum line make the opening track exhausting, despite its dreamlike quality. Title track ‘The Transition’ is much more dramatic and a little less repetitive, making it easier on the ear. While there’s definitely a dubstep feel to it, by the outro the track resembles an 80s computer game.

‘Based Exorcism’ is the closest that Keyboard Kid’s EP gets to his work with Lil B, with dirty bass and a little more urgency. The vocals are better manipulated here, sounding more like an instrument than a chipmunk (thank god for that). ‘Based Exorcism’ ends abruptly, in keeping with the drama and force of the track. There are touches of drum n bass and broken beat on ‘The Most’. Its layers of bubbling synth make it fluid and complex, but not especially interesting. The only noticeable shift to this pattern is the addition of the drum line about halfway through, adding to the intensity.

If the opening track was a headache, then closer ‘Long Live Swag’ is a full blown migraine. Manically fast synths swirl in a disturbing mania over pounding drums. Yet strangely, it’s very difficult to decide whether this is the best or worst track on the EP. While my head was pounding through most of it, it quickly became addictive and the repetition soothing.


Furious, dizzying, claustrophobic, bland, addictive – I’m really not sure what to make of Keyboard Kid’s debut EP. The tracks have a refreshing subtlety and are surprising compelling, but at the same time they’re literally painful to listen to for more than a few minutes. A talented musician / producer and a leader in his genre, Keyboard Kid has released something unique, impressive and memorable.