Review Summary: It’s as if both these guys are indifferent to beauty, and it gives Red Version a special kind of reverence.
Over the weekend, I went to my local record store in Hamilton and picked up the new EP Red Version by King Dice. The new release sees the band deliver their very first physical release to the world, and so I thought I would do the honour of reviewing it. Composed by George Lacatus and Zach Vernon, and recorded at Hamilton’s Mule Spinner, the music is a purely Hamiltonian affair.
Starting off, Red Version roots itself in a thoroughly lo-fi sonic atmosphere, relying largely on the ingenuities of Lacatus’s synths. Throughout its 18 minute run, the music favours a gritty texture while still following a pop formula thanks to Vernon’s drumming. Yet, the duo leaves room in the songs for improvisational flairs. Intro “Gold Dust” starts with a blistering and enjoyable lead. The song follows a fierce line of progression until eventually relenting. Following this, “Red and Black” sees the duo relieve brief warbles and percussion breaks, yet staying within a steady and plodding frame. “Ghost Rider” produces a wide sonic pathway and allows for a more verbose vocal delivery. The layering of synth is matched tastefully with Vernon’s drums. “Genie” makes breathing room for the album, however for me the song finds its strength in the instrumental jams rather than the sung verses. A recurring synth line in the song sounds much like the drawing of a finger-nail on a cosmic blackboard. Outro “Oscillations” succeeds both as a tour de force of songwriting and as Red Version’s conclusion. I found the synth, vocals and drums combine into a dejected kind of beautiful sound. The song grows logically upon its foundations, before enveloping into an interlude, and then returning to its infectious refrain.
As a whole, Red Version succeeds based on the merits of its production and song writing. Between the two of them, Lacatus and Vernon have crafted a palette that maximizes the tools at their command, and bridged whatever gaps may exist in a two-man band. To emphasize, I was duly impressed by the band’s songcraft, from leading a song well to giving worthy elements their full exposure. It is the stuff of great players. Beyond this, their clear propensity for experimentation marks them in well-defined, outsider territory. Both musicians seem capable at following traditional structures while injecting their personalities to full effect.
It’s as if, both these guys are indifferent to beauty, and it gives Red Version a special kind of reverence.
