- Dreamy UK club tracks from the ever-changing London artist.
- Ikonika's music has always had a playful streak, whether it be the bright synth sounds and whiplash rhythms on her early records for Hyperdub, or the bootlegs and edits she's released more recently, which employ catchy vocal samples from pop artists like Kelela and Ariana Grande. But the subject of the London producer's latest EP, Bodies for Don't Be Afraid, is a bit more serious. It traces the artist's journey through substance abuse, PTSD, sexuality and, finally, discovery of self-care.
Bodies has a more fluid sound than Ikonika's past work, where raw and militant drum sequences are soothed over by dreamy pads and melodies. The record is bookended by its two plushest tracks: "Your Body" and "Bodied (Roller Edit)," both percussive club cuts that ache with sweet melancholy. In the middle, things get tougher. "Nobody" is mean and rigid, while "What Kinda Pain Are We Talking About?" has scuzzy drum sounds and a heavy swing. Even in these uneasier moments, Ikonika sneaks in the occasional gleaming riff, highlighting Bodies' intriguing interplay between dark and light.
Tracklist01. Your Body
02. Nobody
03. What Kinda Pain Are We Talking About?
04. Bodied (Roller Mix)