A year on from the release of their debut self-titled EP, Melbourne uncle and niece duo Willow Beats, namely Kalyani Ellis and Narayana Johnson, have clearly been busy consciously refining their sound.
Alchemy, their second EP, plays like the chapters of a book, with an overwhelming sense of synergy that was absent in their first release.
The eponymous track features a steady beat blended with indistinguishable vocals provided by Ellis, which ties in remarkably well with the subtle recordings of crashing waves which underpins the track.
“Elemental” showcases more strongly Ellis’ beautiful, husky vocals. With a clarity that doesn’t seem over-refined, the twosome have mastered a tricky balancing act by combining heavy dubstep beats with softer melodies to create a sound that’s completely easy to listen to but in no way placid.
“Blue” features vocals from Johnson and is the most reserved track on the EP. With suburban strings and SBTRKT-esque hollow drums, it’s a pleasantly soft inclusion amongst the other four busier tracks.
The most lyrically prominent number, “Incantation”, comes next, heavily featuring echoing vocals from Johnson. As a song, it presents heavy fantasy vibes and references to the Hare Krishna upbringing the two were exposed to.
The final track “Cog Goblin” fits more neatly into the dubstep category, and includes interesting samples of shattering glass and classic techno builds. With heavier beats and an intriguing keys interlude “Cog Goblin” is a solid conclusion to very strong EP.
Featuring glitchy vocals and infectious drums throughout, Willow Beats provide with this release something notably different from anything else currently on Australian airwaves- Alchemy filling a gap that many have been searching for by providing a quality locally-produced chillstep sound.
