Live Review: KLO 'Cusp' EP

Melbourne cousin duo KLO have had a pretty interesting year. From a hugely successful BIGSOUND performance, a string of sold out shows, spots at BEYOND THE VALLEY and PARADISE MUSIC FESTIVAL and dizzyingly high play counts on Spotify and Soundcloud, it's goes without saying that they're onto something good.

Their recently released EP, aptly named Cusp, represents just that: them on the cusp of truly breaking through.

Comprised of CHLOE KAUL and SIMON LAM (of I'LLS), the sounds this pair are producing are compelling and hypnotizing. The skilful production of Cusp is a testimony to just how talented they are, and when paired with Kaul's dreamy, LITTLE DRAGON-esque pipes the success they've already had comes as no surprise.

Previously released tracks Under Lie, False Calls and Make Me Wonder feature on the release, with the latter kicking things off. The relaxed beats and hand claps, beautiful lyrics and swirling synths and symbols create a dreamy soundscape that will settle over the rest of the EP. Under Lie takes the groove up a bit. Side-stepping closer to electro-pop than chillwave, the track is just as blissed out and mesmerising as the first one. Lam's production skills really come into their own on this track, and raise the bar for the rest of the release.

Moodier False Calls is genre-bending, and highlights Chloe's vocal range to be pretty impressive indeed! It's sassy, and shows more lyrical depth for the duo, posing the question "is there anything they can't do?!" Next up is Take Us To The Grave, which continues to take you to a better, more dreamier place where Klo is the soundtrack. Layer upon layer of backbeats, vocal melodies, synths and samples comprise the chill, yet dancey track. Ride/Carry On wraps things up in a way seemingly only possible for Klo, in all it's crisply and freshly produced/ebb and flow glory. Kaul's voice never once lets up with it's ability to pull you in without even realising.

Klo have a busy summer ahead of them, with slots at Melbourne Music Week, Paradise Music Festival and Beyond The Valley still to come! If this is what they can do in the space of a few months, who knows what we can still expect from one of this year's most exciting acts!

Cusp is out now on Dot Dash/Remote Control Records and can be streamed from Spotify below!

Words by Emma Jones.

LISTEN TO MORE NEW MUSIC HERE

SEE ALSO

PREMIERE: I'LLS 'A WARM RECEPTION'

LISTEN: KLO 'UNDER LIE'