I have to admit this is not easy to process to its full credit, because even though Cadence Kid is a huge talent, you have to like what he’s putting out. “Hold On Me” is an angelic slice of indie-pop that just floats around the ears with ease and cries for you to loop it. It could use another minute or so to really sink it in. But it is what it is, and it’s not bad at all, it’s pretty good, along with his past work this year, which is all I can comment on because it is all I’ve heard. He has a background working with orchestras, so that does lend to where he is coming from. It’s just that this is not a complex tune at all, it’s very light and dreamy, but nothing too complicated sounding. It goes well with the previous two singles “XTC” which has over 20,000 views at YouTube, and “Whistling Your Name.”
Having been quite the consumer of everyone from David Bowie to Duran Duran back in the 80s, I can relate to this on some levels. But if there were more artists coming up with stuff like this it wouldn’t stand out to me as much. But Cadence Kid himself is somewhat of an enigma when he comes along this way, and a challenge to completely evaluate. It’s that elusive element I suppose, as you don’t know enough until you’ve heard enough of someone. But I can rate this on the spot and only give it some constructive counter points. So, that is a testament to his decision to go solo. A great decision but what’s to be heard is where it’s all at, and the more the merrier, so he should stay the course. It always gets the best results when you stay at it.
As for the tune itself, well it’s pretty cut and dried romantic style pop with a lot of instruments to mix, which Beck’s Grammy winning producer pulled off. But an album’s worth would be so much better. What that tells me is he’s headed in that direction, but is he isn’t, that would be too bad. But musicians can tend to get caught up in going where the offers are, and it’s a balance he hopefully finds his way with and manages to do with flying colors. The chorus is great and probably the best thing there is to say about it. But that’s a shame because there is a lot applied to the backing track. It would be cool to hear and instrumental by him on his next single to make up for that.
All in all you win some and lose some. Nothing lost here, so if next he decides to make a full album then it would be worth looking forward to. Some can’t budget that, some can’t market that, and some don’t want to, which is one reason why they release singles and EP’s for their fans to enjoy and they don’t get into the level of global domination. Music doesn’t have to be canned and people don’t have to be directed onto industry treadmills, but I can say that it helps build up data, which singles don’t do as much, so Cadence Kid should position himself sooner or later with higher ups, if he stays the course as a solo artist.
JANGO: http://www.jango.com/music/Cadence+Kid
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Cadencekid/
Cyrus Rhodes
