Kid:Nap:Kin - Touring The Riot Scene
Kid:Nap:Kin is comprised of only three musicians Dan Ellis, Jamila Weaver, and Patrick Hanlin. The complexity of the music found in “Introduction” feels unreal for the fact that only three artists are involved in all that music. The melodic sound of “Introduction” echoes a very post-punk or indie atmosphere of Mars Volta meets [old] Lost Prophets. The dynamic of the band comes out towards the middle of the track and blends into “Exposition.”
The second track takes a much more raw and harsh (in a good way) sound than the previous track. While “Introduction” was the sing-along and feel-good tune, “Exposition” represents a much more intense and in-your-face experience. The mix of high-pitch thrills and chills fits so well with the music and translates especially well in the band’s live show. The high vocal dynamic of Dan is coupled by the scratchy screams of the drummer Patrick. The ending rings as a creepy slowing of the pace of whispers and soft strums of the guitar.
(Lovely Day For A) Parade opens up with familiar melody like “Introduction,” featuring a much more melodic vocal progression than the fiery “Exposition.” The last line of the first verse is probably my favorite melody of the entire album. “Overcome with pain, serrated, drawn and baited…. softer.” It culminates the intensity of Dan’s melodic voice and then breaks into a bridge of thunderous chugs of guitar and screaming in the background. The chorus just drives off the intensity of that verse and delivers a very memorable track. “Invalid Teratoma” kicks off the same kind of rawness and intensity that “Exposition” drawed from, but it also slows down a bit to encompass many of the elements Kidnapkin shows here and there on the album. The rock element through the whole song coupled with the dancey element about 4 minutes in that culminates with the spazzy bridge to the chorus and leads into “I, Mantiklos.”
The ending of the album also comes as the full bloom of the lyrical content in the EP.
“The hammer stroke leaves one life lost, but I’m still laughing
Reject before / rejection holds my new found fear
What will we get from subtle lies bereft of aptitude for…
Fresh from martyrdom, reeled in as a puppet would…
To fight is blind, you’re soulless, black, but aren’t we divine?” (”I, Mantikos”)
The translation from great lyrics to actual musical content is flawless in this regard. The bass really comes out in this song as well during the verses. After the music fades, a couple minutes of silence occur before an acoustic hidden track comes up.
Taking a look at the packaging after I gave the CD a listen, I was taken back by the design. The whole CD art and representation of the lyrics and such seemed very socio-political in nature. From the “It’s the daily paper screaming at you from its morning spot next to the over-priced mocha latte. War. Inflation. Gas Prices. Poverty. Sex on TV…” bit to the images of guns, wreckage, and windmills, everything seems to be some sort of social message. The actual lyrical content of the band doesn’t represent the same kind of message, but it certainly makes you think a bit. I did get very involved in just analyzing the CD cover and all the inserts. I encourage you to buy the record and check that out.
TRACK LIST:
01. Introduction
02. Exposition
03. (Lovely Day For A) Parade
04. Invalid Teratoma
05. I, Mantiklos
