Rich and rewarding…a gleaming sonic world…' Pitchfork // '…one of the most pioneering musicians in the world.' Dazed // '…an entrancing…playful, engaging, and often incredibly soothing synth odyssey…' Gorilla Vs. Bear // In 2017, the musical term 'electronic' is nearly obsolete given the ubiquity of computerized processes in producing music. Even so, the prevailing assumption is that musicians working under this broad umbrella must be inspired by concepts equally as electrified as their equipment. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith has demonstrated in her still-blooming discography that this notion couldn't be further from the truth, and that more often than not, rich worlds of synthesized sound are born from deep reverence of the natural world. Smith has embodied such an appreciation on The Kid in as direct and sincere a way as possible by sonically charting the phases of life itself. The album, which punctually follows up her 2016 breakthrough EARS, chronicles four defining cognitive and emotional stages of the human lifespan across 4 sides of a double LP. The first side takes us through the confused astonishment of a newborn, unaware of itself, existing in an unwitting nirvana. Smith's music has always woven a youthful thread befitting of the aforementioned subject. Here she articulates it in signature fashion on the track 'An Intention,' which serves not only as a soaring spire on The Kid, but on her entire output. There is playfulness here, but it's elevated by an undertone of gravity into something compelling and majestic that is fast becoming Smith's watermark. The emotional focus of side two is the vital but underreported moment in early youth when we cross the threshold into self awareness. The subject is profound enough to fill an entire album, but rarely makes its way into a single track, indicating Smith's ambition to broach subtler and deeper subjects than the average composer. This side offers up another highlight in the form of 'In The World But Not Of The World' which serves its subject well with epiphanic, climbing strings and decidedly noisy textures over a near-Bollywood low end pulse. Side 3 emphasizes a feeling of being confirmed enough in one's own identity to begin giving back to the formative forces of one's upbringing, which is arguably the duty that all great artists aim to fulfill. This side ends with the exploratory album cut 'Who I Am & Why I Am Where I Am' recorded in a single take without overdubs on the rare EMS Synthi 100 synthesizer. This humble piece of sound design serves as a contrast to side 4's verdant orchestral moments, all written and arranged for the EU-based Stargaze quartet by Smith herself. This final side represents a return to pure being, the kind of wisdom and peace that eludes most of us until the autumn of life. On 'To Feel Your Best' this concept is voiced in the bittersweet refrain 'one day I'll wake up and you won't be there' which Smith intended to be a grateful acknowledgement of life rather than a melancholy resentment of loss. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith belongs to an ilk of modern musicians who are defined by their commitment to creating experiential albums despite the singles-oriented habits of modern listeners, and here she represents her kind proudly. The subjects on The Kid are not simple to convey, and yet through both emotional tone and lyrical content, Smith does just that. Tracks : 01 I Am A Thought 1:54, 02 An Intention 4:01, 03 A Kid 5:04, 04 In The World 3:00, 05 I Am Consumed 0:54, 06 In The World But Not Of The World 3:57, 07 I Am Learning 3:16, 08 To Follow And Lead 4:48, 09 Until I Remember 4:23, 10 Who I Am Why I Am Where I Am 5:21, 11 I Am Curious I Care 3:45, 12 I Will Make Room For You 4:59, 13 To Feel Your Best 6:20….
DELIVERY INFORMATION
Updated a month ago
Please choose your location from the dropdown below:
✔ You have qualified for FREE delivery!
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW...
You’ll receive a confirmation email once your order is placed, followed by a second email containing your tracking information once your order has been shipped from our warehouse.
All delivery timeframes start from the day after you place the order unless specified.
Gift Card purchases don’t count towards qualifying for a free delivery threshold.
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver to Military Addresses in EU countries.
In the unlikely event that you don’t receive your order after the stated delivery timeframe, or your order is damaged when it arrives, please contact us.
SHIPPING EXCLUSION LIST
We currently do not ship to the following places:
Afghanistan, Belarus, Burundi, Bonaire, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guadeloupe, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Martinique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North Korea, Northern Marianas Islands, Oaxaca Region of Mexico, Pakistan, Reunion, Russia, Somalia, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, South Sudan, Sudan, Gauteng Province of South Africa, Syria, St. Barthelemy, St. Martin, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
FAQ
What is the IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop)?
The Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) is an electronic portal that businesses can use to comply with their VAT obligations on distance sales of imported goods. Since 1st July 2021, all goods imported into the EU with a value of up to €150 are subject to VAT. No additional VAT fees should be paid for the delivery of parcels in Europe under €150. For orders over €150, your order will be shipped DDU (Delivery Duty Unpaid).
Arrived quickly well packed and a good price think our grandchildren will enjoy playing for many years to come limited only by their imagination. This was to add to the starter set we already had