Keys N Krates – “I Know U” (Stereogum Premiere)
Keys N Krates stand out among the many, many artists making synthetic party jams to jack up your heart rate and bowl over your senses. “I Know U,” from the Toronto electronic band’s upcoming EP, has all the hallmarks of the modern EDM scene — tweaked vocal samples, cavernous drops, chaotic laser outbursts — but it’s executed expertly, in a way that makes those tropes feel timeless. Parts of the track rush forward with melancholy urgency a la Gold Panda, while others crush with the brutality of Skrillex at his best. The combination casts “I Know U” as an exciting sample platter of what pop-minded EDM can be. You may not know these guys, but you ought to.
Keys N Krates’ new EP is due this fall via Dim Mak.