Maybe its only because of the relatively truncated period in which the post-dubstep poster boys of Mount Kimbie released their debut and sophomore EPs, Maybes and Sketch on Glass, followed by last year’s defining Crooks and Lovers LP, but it oddly feels like new material from the duo is a little overdue. Unfortunately, those who have been patiently waiting for new gems to surface may only be partially satisfied, as the Carbonated EP—consisting of the title track (taken from the duo’s aforementioned full-length), two previously unreleased cuts, and three remixes—is merely a glimpse into Mount Kimbie’s not-so-distant past and the group’s circle of musical comrades.
Even a year after is original release, “Carbonated,” the EP’s opening track, still stands as an incredibly impressive piece of UK beat craftsmanship, so much so that it outshines the rest of the tracks to follow. “Flux” and “Bave’s Chords” are the two previously unreleased pieces, and, although not without their shining moments, both feel a bit unfinished when compared to the staggering richness that has come to characterize Mount Kimbie’s sound. As for the remixers, all three take a different approach to their respective tasks, with fellow UK resident Klaus turning another LP cut, “Adriatic,” into a ghostly, five-minute expedition and Airhead rearranging “Carbonated” into a steady, brooding head-nodder. But it is Peter van Hosen who takes the title track out the furthest, rendering the original elements almost unrecognizable before mangling them into a crunchy piece of percolating, distorted house. Carbonated may not be exactly what the legions of devoted Mount Kimbie fans have been pining for, but music with such intricately weaved details surely takes time, and this EP proves to be a welcome stopgap to help hold us over.
