'WKMP'- The New Self-Titled Project from Ambient Duo featuring Alternative Artist Homeshake

https://store.homeshake.net/music

An introspective soundscape collage once relegated to cassettes and Homeshake's live shows finally graces the internet...

If you excitedly listened to this album thinking you were going to be greeted by the familiar dreamy arpeggios, delicate and precise drum grooves, and wispy broken vocals of Homeshake, you may have been disappointed.

While the Homeshake name is included in every track on the album this is not a part of his discography of R&B inspired Indie-Pop. To much online confusion, (most definitely due to the lack of much information on this project) WKMP is both the album itself and a new duo formed between the aforementioned HomeShake (Peter Sagar) and Kyle McCrea.

McCrea's contribution is not to be understated here. While the minor star power in the Homeshake name is sure to draw many fans into this project. Kyle has his fair share of experience with sound design and composition, working with brands such as Nike and Budweiser in the ad-space, while also working with award winning short films.

WKMP - In The Range (Song Visualizer)

It was the sound design that most struck a chord with me upon my first listen. After completing the first two tracks you begin to think you have a grasp on what's ahead. 'Airport Hotel Snow' and 'Going Into Buildings' both feature spoken word in the form of tape-recorded clips. This idea is then never touched again, as if the story is driven into more isolated settings from here on out. This is not to say we never hear sound-design as a prominent element again. No, it's heavily woven into every track, and at times it's quite hard to discern where tape-wobble ends and atmosphere begins, such as in 'Honest E.D.S' with its droning backing ambiance and metalic rhythm section.

With some tracks being so accessibly readable they stand out as the "singles" of this project even though it was released as a whole. 'A Drunk Driver' holds some of the most prominent sound design and has the most telling narrative out of the whole project, while 'Going Into Buildings' strikes the perfect balance between an artful lack of context and enough substance to invoke deep sympathy for the speaker.

If none of the above interests you, WKMP does still feature much of the familiar style guitar we know and love from Homeshake. From the warble to the melodies, it retains his identity, simply in a much different package. While not for everyone and certianly not for every listening setting, WKMP is a stellar debut from what I hope becomes a regularly outputting group. WKMP just may be the closest thing we have to an ambient supergroup at the moment.

Listen on Spotify here:

or buy the digital album at https://homeshake.net/

Thanks for reading!