Zeds Dead – Somewhere Else EP

As I sit here listening to the heavily anticipated Zed’s Dead ‘Somewhere Else’ EP, one foot elevated out the window and the other dangling apathetically beside it, I wonder why I’m torturing myself like a recovering alcoholic in a vineyard. You see, I’m a die-hard Zed’s Dead fan. Who’s Zed, you may ask? Not to be confused with German house aficionado Zedd, Zed’s Dead are a Canadian combination of DC and Hooks (formerly known as Mass Productions).

Known for their heavy hip hop influence and super strong dubstep beats, their latest EP holds these influences dear, but with a fresh and distinctly different sound. Music to the ears, without offending the memory.

With eight tracks of solid gold and something to suit every taste, ‘Somewhere Else’ is quite possibly the best EP from the boys to date.

‘Collapse’ manages to incorporate a pretty standard set of dance vocals into an old-fashioned dubstep beat and make something really quite beautiful out of it.

Lost You featuring Twin Shadow is a bouncy yet unexpected house anthem with exceptionally pitch-perfect vocals – something that is untrodden territory for Zeds Dead, but mastered beautifully.

My personal favourite and most true to the original sound of DC and Hooks is Stoned Capone – featuring my all-time favourite white rapper (next to Eminem, obviously) Omar Linx. Omar has worked with Zeds Dead from day dot – the trio has even produced a whole EP together. Linx’s vocals compliment the bass like Nutella on toast; it shouldn’t work, but somehow it does.

My half dead foot (presumably riddled with trench foot from last month’s swim around Parklife) has suddenly regained a pulse. Not so dead after all, eh Zed?

The ‘Somewhere Else’ EP is available on iTunes now.

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