Illinois’ Vulture Beach has arrived on the airwaves at precisely the moment we need an escape. Dubbing itself "Retro Electro," this electronic-based project is clearly rooted in creative freedom and, crucially, having fun, yet it manages to blend a dizzying array of influences. Across just three tracks, the ‘Idyll’ EP delivers on its promise of a unique listening experience, throwing together elements of rock, ambience, hip-hop, and electronica.
What’s perhaps most arresting is the juxtaposition of this hyper-eclectic sound with a classic Goth Metal aesthetic, providing a sharp visual contrast to the energetic jams on offer. The project is less a tribute to a single genre, and more an invitation to movement, proving that ambitious genre-crossing can be both cohesive and genuinely exciting.
The introduction, ‘Why Would I?’, doesn't just start the EP; it careens right into focus with a driven, immediate energy. Pulsating beats lay a foundation that feels both classic EDM and thoroughly modern, layered with reverb-soaked refrains that give the track enormous space. This is where Vulture Beach properly delivers the collision between raw rock power and a cosmic, electronic current. The track is bold, dynamic, and serves as a statement of intent, demanding the listener’s attention from the first second and refusing to release it. It establishes the EP’s maximalist tendency, showing the project is unafraid to utilise every sound at its disposal.
Following this high-octane opener is ‘The Current’, a track that musically embodies its title through fluid motion and shifting soundscapes. It begins with lighter, cascading tones before being utterly swept up in a torrent of hip-hop anthemics. This is arguably the EP’s most complex number, defined by a fascinating Jekyll and Hyde approach to the vocals, which drift between slick rap delivery and a more defiant, shouted rock style. It is this duality that gives the track its irresistible grit, while the soaring melody ensures it never devolves into mere noise. The way the rock energy and hip-hop flow fight for dominance, yet ultimately complement each other, showcases the project’s musical dexterity.
Finally, the collection closes out with ‘Flying High (Remix)’, showcasing Vulture Beach’s more atmospheric side. Though lacking none of the power or rhythmic drive of the previous tracks, it adds a welcome layer of emotive touch, shared effectively between the dual vocals. The EDM elements, which have been strong throughout, feel most at home here, steadily rising and falling, creating peaks and troughs of sonic euphoria.
It’s a compelling, atmospheric closer that ensures the ‘Idyll’ EP fulfils its core aim: to provide the listener with a feeling of escape and movement. A cracking debut that leaves us eager to see where this Illinois project steers its synthesizers next.
You can stream the new EP now on Spotify and Bandcamp, and for more, be sure to connect with the band on Instagram.
