“So I rub my gums cause I don’t mind the taste.“
It seems only a blink of an eye since Tokky Horror emerged with their debut I Found the Answers and Now I Want More in 2021, which was later incorporated into Home Recordings and given a deserved fully-fledged release alongside live shows on later that year. The riff-filled techno sound with vocal hooks that would loop in the mind for days made Tokky Horror a group with explosive potential, and now they broaden their horizons further with KAPPACORE.
From the outset with “MAXINE“, featuring Blazer Boccle, the record already feels larger than itself. With its teasing drum and bass grooves that seem primed to explode yet continue on in a paced harmony, the vocal hook “Skip, skip a beat, you make my heart skip a beat” is one of many unshakeable earworms. The eventual pay-off comes with the short, snappy, and chaotic “HAMMER 2 FACE“, which is sure to get any room moving. Though it feels slightly too brief, the quick transition into “Jazz Music” preserves the energy and flow of the EP.
Previously released single “Jazz Music” has yet to lose it’s catchy element, and there’s something daft but also incredibly infectious about the line “I love jazz music, we love jazz music, Tokky Horror crew.” The beats on the huge verses are some top DnB, and will undoubtedly be twice as grand in a live setting. Following on is “Toilet“, a paced track which brings the guitar riffs and alternative elements to the forefront. It further explores the 90s/00s jungle influences that are present across previous tracks, one of the many elements that lends KAPPACORE an essence of warm nostalgia and soul. “Toilet” demonstrates Tokky Horror‘s impressive range and ability to blend in guitar riffs, vocals, and an array of electronic textures while still maintaining their captivating sound.
Closing out KAPACORE comes what is arguably the best Tokky Horror track to date in the form of “TRANMERE RAVER“. Featuring Mc NULTi, the build up here into the drop is dance-inducing, with infectious, bouncing bass and distorted vocals adding a new layer of character. There is a force and toughness coming from the deep bass that projects an energy of moving and dancing with purpose. The only way its true quality can be done justice is in being seen in a live setting.
There is more than plenty to enjoy in what is a brief offering on KAPPACORE. It is an EP to be blasted out of speakers and shouted along too. As each track passes, the yearn to see each of them live increases, to hear every word yelled feel the rampant vibration of the bass. Outside of this, there is something deeply authentic to KAPPACORE; when the privately educated are seeing themselves rise to the top of the dance scene, hearing human and lived experiences gives the music a heart that further enhances what are some absolutely bangin’ tunes.
8/10
KAPPACORE is out this Friday, via Venn Records, and can be pre-ordered here.