Kate Simko is back. Literally: she returned to Chicago from the UK last month for a gig at Mine Music Hall with her London Electronic Orchestra project. And figuratively: she’s back with Party Wall, a new EP on Play It Say It. This represents a return to the dance floor, to fucking up bodies as well as minds with two choice tracks on a exhilarating but sophisticated deep house EP.
The tracks on Party Wall could have appeared on Kabuki Drop or another of her EPs from nearly a decade ago on Leftroom. The title track is a heat-seeking missile – melodic, driving at a break-neck pace but never letting the force of an atomic blast slip out of her hands. It feels just perfect, every note in place like tiles of a mosaic, like she may have plotted the blueprint for them on graph paper. “By My Side” has a looser more jackin’ feel to it, with sparse chords and distorted vocals floating upward like cathedral arches.
Kate is always making interesting things and working with the most interesting people, and it stands to reason that after a two year hiatus she returns and just drops one of the records of the year without so much as a stumble. She’s special, and if she’s coming to your town I recommend you buy a ticket and see one of the best producers of our generation at work. And if not, buy a record.
Kate Simko: Party Wall / Play It Say It / October 2019 / digital
1. Kate Simko: Party Wall (6:55)
2. Kate Simko: By My Side (7:41)
A New State: Originally published in 5 Mag issue 177 featuring electronic music godfathers 808 State, Soela, thatmanmonkz & more. Help support 5 Mag by becoming a member for just $1 per issue.
