By Keith Walsh
Using an Ableton DAW and a computer-based setup, Taewook Lucas Kang of 3kelves uses the studio and mixing console as instruments. As a DJ, songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer, Kang got inspired by studying the art of music creation and entering Disclosure’s remix contest, winning twice and getting airplay on BBC Radio 1 and Capital Dance. (My new interview with Kang is at PopularCultureBeat.com).
3kelves’ new Lucas 루카스 EP offers a fresh spin on the sounds from the early days of disco, funk, and soft rock. The 5 songs, created by Kang and his collaborators, put an electro twist on the grooves of the 1970s. Kang, who plays guitar, keyboards and drums is an expatriate from South Korea who moved to California’s Bay Area 10 years ago.
Lucas 루카스 is a set of feel-good music with intensely introspective lyrics, and a smooth, organic feel due to the presence of guitars alongside the electronic instruments. Across the album there are collaborations with producers and instrumentalists who add important elements, with bass guitar by Jonathan Mono, Memery, and Dylan C. Greene adding decidedly fresh grooves that play an important part in the vibrancy of the overall sound.
The opening track “Tides” begins the set with tasty percussive electric guitar picking, then comes a callback to the smooth grooves of the disco era, with Kang’s mellow soprano voice riding atop the funk bass groove. There’s lots of cool synth lines and percussive variety from sequenced drum beats. Axel Steinbiss adds string arrangements and drums, while Jonathan Mono of We Are Neurotic plays bass and guitar.
The lyrics on Lucas 루카스 are rich with strange imagery:
Squint my eyes the world is too bright / Tangled up I’m part of this life now / Reached my hands deep down in the shore / Cold naked to the cross alone / Stumbling towards the heart of the sun now
From “Tides” by 3kelves
“No One Else” is a collaboration with Memery, featuring retro analog snare sounds, glitchy percussive guitar and synths, and more funk. Taewook’s voice relates a strange tale of desire. There’s some super tasty guitar soloing on the way out. Synth and drums are added by Troy Frazier Carson of Memery, and Mono’s bass once again holds down the groove.
“Swallow” is an artsy disco tune starting off with cool clavinet then developing into a danceable funk and pop. Mono adds guitar, bass and keyboards, while Karel Williams of We Are Neurotic plays drums. “CoreCore” is avant-disco, with a catchy atonal, glitchy guitar figure in the verses, and minimalist beats dominated by a heavy bass groove. As it develops, lovely synths fill the sonic spectrum. Like the other songs, it tells a story of loss, surrender and growth, and the celebration of beauty found around us. Dylan Cees Greene is heavily featured here, contributing guitar, bass and keyboards, as well as backing vocals.
“Nonsense” concludes Lucas 루카스 with a mellow dance feel, featuring a deep and lovely bass figure, and choruses that bursts into lyrical and melodic exultation. Again, Dylan Cees Greene adds keyboards, guitar and bass. The lyrics are sweetly optimistic:
I believe / We all will get along not until the end
I believe / We all will get a chance to make our mends
I believe / We all got lost inside trapped inside our heads
I believe / We all are trying our best to look ahead and let go
From ‘Nonsense’ by 3kelves
Lucas was mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri. 3kelves has shared stages with Chromeo, Purple Disco Machine Dylan C. Greene, and SG Lewis. My interview with Taewook, where he discusses his workflow and inspirations will be coming soon to PopularCultureBeat.com. 3kelves are on the Toucan Sounds label.
3kelves On Instagram
3kelves On Bandcamp
Toucan Sounds On Bandcamp
We Are Neurotic On Bandcamp
Interview with 3kelves at PopularCultureBeat.com
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