Volcanic Shores’ Sweet Sounds EP: A London, Born Blend of Drum & Bass, Chillwave, and Cinematic Cool

With their new EP, Sweet Sounds, Volcanic Shores come back with a daring and nothing genre, specific project from a London band that is not scared to go beyond its limits. This four-track offering is a turning point for the duo as they not only explore drum & bass territory but also keep the rich, downtempo side of their music. It’s their hometown influence, after all, that made such a move feel so organic, deliberate, and very much of the urban way.

The first two tracks of the EP, with the haunting Noya vocals, are full of bright and vibrant rhythms of the late nights at fabric and the energy of night, time heroes like Andy C, LTJ Bukem, and also take inspiration from Nia Archives, the new name. “Sweet Sounds” and its earthy mix breathe a lively, club-leaning vibe, very much fit for the dance floor, yet they keep their strong lyrical content in place. They are pretty much dance anthems, but the emotional tone that they have takes them to a higher level of the genre.

Then comes the pivot. “Catch the Wave” and “Sitting About” show off the extremely atmospheric side of Volcanic Shores, where they woke up to the idea of collaboration with Nick Mee, a bassist. The two tracks feature warm and mellow tunes with the drifting chords creating a very spacious mood, which is a perfect mix for Khruangbin and Nightmares on Wax fans. The two tracks go beyond the EP's concept of a limited world to the idea of Volcanic Shores being an extensively layered and profoundly introspective band.

Sweet Sounds, them um is a pure and heartfelt product of a London-based home studio recording. It is a mix of the band's fascination with drum & bass and downtempo psychedelia, as well as proof of their talent to reshape their musical persona without thematically straying from the path that leads to their fan base.

In such a scene that is bursting with clones and copycats, this record is singled out by its honesty, its musical versatility, and its rebellious nature that doesn't let it be stuck in one genre. They have come a long way with their previous works, yet the present record is a departure from the past that still keeps both feet on the ground while looking ahead.