Kinder Atom – Soft Hand Feel

The latest release from Kinder Atom, Soft Hand Feel, is a nicely packaged collection of quirky ambient/downtempo electronica tracks.

The package is a great example of what labels can do right to complete with digital downloads. The packaging is well-designed, with the sexy foldout feel of LPs from back in the day. There’s an insert with additional info about the tracks. The label, Nice and Smooth, even throws in a bonus DVD that has videos of the tracks. Nice and Smooth, indeed – if you’re into more experimental downtempo music, Soft Hand Feel is a collection that you’ll enjoy in your hands, on your TV and in your ears.

The music diverse, but falls into a general downtempo vibe. Japan Cakes is interesting combination of dub, breakbeats and general weirdness. Sangria is one of the highlights of the CD. It features an echoed sequence, far away synth pads, rhodes-style keyboard work and house beats. DB8 takes things into drum and bass territory, while Bring the Herbs is almost pure dub.

The track Soft Hand Feel is another choice cut, sounding a bit like one of Brian Eno’s otherwordly instrumentals from his early CDs. Car Audio closes things out with one of the more straight-ahead tracks, a downtempo groove not too far from instrumental hip-hop territory.

Check out these videos  – the resolution is bad and the sound worse, but they will give you a taste of what you can expect on Soft Hand Feel:

Bubbles

Eagle Sprouts

Ascension

 

According to the liner notes – the tracks are mastered with “ultra-finesse” and it shows.

Overall, Soft Hand Feel is an intriguing collection of tracks from Kinder Atom. Their label, Nice and Smooth, has done such a great job with the entire package – music, CD, packaging and the videos, that we’re looking forward to checking out other releases on the label.

Tracks:

  • Eagle Sprouts
  • Japan Cakes
  • Sangria
  • Bubble
  • Broken Bedsprings
  • DB8
  • Bring the Herbs (feat. Musical Sniper)
  • Ascension
  • Soft Hand Feel
  • Car Audio

DVD Videos

  • Sangria
  • Eagle Sprouts
  • Bubble
  • Ascension
  • Car Audio
  • Soft Hand Feel
  • Eagle Sprouts (nuwavediskomix)

Bonus Audio Remixes (on DVD disc)

  • Eagle Sprouts (Nuwavediskomix)
  • Bubble (Jazz House mix)
  • Bring The Herbs

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