new music: south african singer/songwriter loui lvndn’s debut hikari ep is exhilarating #soundcheck

Marrying the menace of post-punk, the clipped energy of indie rock, the amelodic noises of industrial, and a passionate vocal delivery, South African singer/songwriter Loui Lvndn burst out with “Unlovinyouland.” It’s an exhilarating mix of sounds and styles, topped with undeniable hooks. On “1UP,” Lvndn adds hip-hop production, peppered with 8-bit Mario blips, demanding to “save the nation.” The EP is at its best when Loui Lvndn finds a balance between his experiments in atmosphere and his impassioned delivery. Though it loses some momentum as he delves deeper into his atmospheric fixation, a Spoek Mathambo featuring remix of “Drugs” pulls the EP to a close with the drive and sonic invention it opens with.

Photos: Brian Malepo