A vibrant, collaborative collection bridging UK bass, house and dancehall energy.
Following his 2024 album Harmonics, Joe Goddard shifts from introspective synth-pop to a club-focused offering with the Kinetic EP. Across five tightly constructed tracks, Goddard explores the kinetic energy of UK club culture — fusing house, garage, dancehall and bass music influences into a lively, collaborative experience.
The EP opens strongly with “Image and Style,” where Suku of Ward 21 and Dynamite MC take control over a snappy, percussive rhythm. The track’s lean bass line and sharp drum programming create a restless, propulsive feel, while the two vocalists inject swagger and urgency, resulting in an immediate standout.
“Ace” pivots into a looser, funk-laced groove. Pinty’s laid-back delivery pairs effortlessly with Goddard’s warm keys and skipping percussion. The track leans closer to UK garage and left field house, trading the opener’s aggression for something breezier and more playful, while maintaining a tight dance floor focus.
“Flex” reunites Goddard with Suku for another round, this time over a mid-tempo, swaggering beat. The track’s low-slung baseline and crisp snares evoke early 2000s club records, with Suku’s vocals adding a slick, infectious bounce. It’s a mid-tempo track, built for head-nodding, and it lands beautifully.
“Buffy” offers an unexpected detour — a brief interlude made with Technology + Teamwork. Its chopped vocal fragments and fractured rhythms create a woozy, off-kilter moment of tension that adds texture and unpredictability.
The EP closes with “Hold Me Tight,” featuring ABSOLUTE. — a lush, emotive finale built on pitched-up vocal samples, shimmering pads and a classic house pulse. It provides a liberating release after the rougher, percussive tracks, wrapping the project with warmth.
At just over 15 minutes, Kinetic EP is a focused collection that finds Goddard operating squarely on the dance floor. It’s a testament to his ability to blend genre instincts with collaborative flair, offering a project as dynamic as it is concise.
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