22 Nov 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Biobird - EP Review: Counter Productive

05 Oct 2018 // A review by rupakelly

Biobird is a one-man Dubstep project, with the main man Caleb Bird hailing from Hamilton. This is his third release, and his second EP, titled Counter Productive.


I'm a big fan of Trap, the younger brother to Dubstep. Trap is a genre that formed from the interesting sounds that Dubstep brought forward combined with the beat and bass of the America South-western Hip-Hop style called Trap. Dubstep relies heavily on a similar song structure to Trap, strong momentum building towards either a bass drop or a hook that overwhelms and excites the listener. Biobird has got that shine in his tracks but it just drops short of really jacking the listener in.

Counter Productive, the title track, is the first up on the EP. The song features an honestly tasty bass track through it, with a cheeky jazzy brass melody overlaid on the top. I feel that this jazzy sound is lost a little under the bass and might've needed to have been brought forward in the mix to really bring it out to add some flavour to the otherwise slightly repetitive bassline. The song really picks up in the last movement, creating an exciting momentum that simmers out at the end with the central melody, again sadly sounding a little flat.

Next up is Soul Drift. This song has a funky beat to it, the drums coming in with a faster tempo this time. However, the bass is very similar to the last track and without a guiding melody over the top, the track sounds unfortunately same-y to the rest of the EP. The melody is there: keys and a few interesting sounds, but they're layered under the overly dominant bass track.

Lost is the following track. While the bass sounds very similar in tone, the breaks in it add some much-needed flavour to the EP. Again, the melody and intrigue just feel over-powered by this behemoth of a bass track. The foreboding choir-like noise that rises in the background also seems misplaced, it doesn't feel like it builds to anything.

And finally, Limbo. This is my favourite track off the EP, as it feels like the most well-crafted of the selection on this release. The drum track is varied and at seemingly a higher BPM than the rest of the album. The melodies and samples are in the forefront and the polish and passion in the track seems to just ooze out. It has a solid build up to the meaty part of the track, coming through with a high calibre arsenal of samples and awe-inspiring flow. If Biobird can offer more material like this, I'm very excited to see where his project goes.

Overall, the EP features very similar basslines that drown out the defining features of the tracks, something that is not at all the case with Limbo which is a shining track in this EP. The final track shows that Biobird has the potential to create some truly tasty tracks and I'll certainly be keeping an eye out to see where he goes with his sound.

Rating: ( 3 / 5 )
 

About Biobird

Releases

Riders
Year: 2020
Type: Album
Count To Ten
Year: 2019
Type: EP
Balance LP
Year: 2018
Type: Album
Counter Productive
Year: 2018
Type: EP
Tribes
Year: 2017
Type: EP

Other Reviews By rupakelly

Gig Review: Avantdale Bowling Club @ Powerstation, Auckland - 24/08/2019
05 Sep 2019 // by rupakelly
Avantdale Bowling Club, the project of Homebrew frontman Tom Scott released one of the best records of 2018. A personal, soul rending piece that spoke of West Auckland based Scott’s experiences with getting older, losing friends and the love of his newborn son.
Read More...
Taco Joint - Single Review: Burning Bridges
20 Mar 2019 // by rupakelly
Taco Joint is a 5 piece Jazz, come blues, come lounge-y act hailing from Auckland, New Zealand. Burning Bridges is their first official release and it shows a clear breadth of musical talent that is available in this project.
Read More...
Gig Review: Soaked Oats @ La Zappa, Auckland - 08/03/2019
19 Mar 2019 // by rupakelly
A free gig, especially one of Soaked Oats calibre are rare to come by. Set in the beautiful La Zappa bar, our space shared by the Auckland University Economics Club, the energy in the night was palpable.
Read More...
Lexxa - Single Review: Get Out
20 Nov 2018 // by rupakelly
Lexxa returns with Get Out, a follow up to their synth pop jam I Got Better Friends Now. After a good year of touring and opening for both local and international heavyweights, Get Out is an excellent second studio release.
Read More...
Alae - Album Review: Henry St
27 Oct 2018 // by rupakelly
Henry St is the debut LP from NZ indie-folk band Alae. After the success of their first self-titled EP Alae and the subsequent tour they undertook coupled with the release of their singles Too Strung Up and Stone Cold, Alae entered the studio to work on their first full length album.
Read More...
Gig Review: Strangely Arousing @ Tuning Fork, Auckland - 19/10/2018
24 Oct 2018 // by rupakelly
Strangely Arousing, hot off their strangely unconventional 7-date tour of South Korea and China crashed into the Tuning Fork In a hot beat and fantastic fashion. Bringing with them Joe's Van and their own DJ Straw Hat providing enjoyable jams between sets, the night was bursting with potential.
Read More...
Gig Review: Daffodils @ Tuning Fork, Auckland - 27/09/2018
01 Oct 2018 // by rupakelly
I spent the best times of my formative years adventuring into a multitude of venues, gigs, and shows. These gave me many fond memories of meeting up with friends, going out and enjoying our mutual interest: music.
Read More...
Mitch James - Single Review: Old News
10 Sep 2018 // by rupakelly
Coming out of the already fantastically robust music scene of Dunedin, Mitch James has released yet another single ahead of his debut album. Titled Old News the song is a heartfelt statement to one you care for, but one you have wronged and one that is leaving; a sentiment that many can relate to.
Read More...
View All Articles By rupakelly

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • APT.
    ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
    Gracie Abrams
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • SAILOR SONG
    Gigi Perez
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem