Really pushing the limits of what constitutes an album on this site when I review a 3 song EP, but Lion Hat by Unicorn Kid has been getting a lot of play lately and is definitely a nice electro pop gem. Unicorn Kid is a producer out Edinburgh that makes some seriously danceable and upbeat electronic music. Rarely do I go this far into the techno world of electronic music but there’s something undeniably catchy and listenable with Unicorn Kid’s melodies. One consistent vibe on all of these songs is how “happy” the songs feel. 8-bit synth is the weapon of choice on Lion Hat, which is pretty common these days among indie electronic acts, but very few take it to the extremes heard on this EP. Seriously, if you like Mega Man soundtracks then this is the record for you.

The song which is appropriately named “8 Bytes” is probably my favorite on here. It’s a really colorful track with an array of synths and a pulsating bass line. The track really gives off a Crystal Castles vibe, and if you’re a fan of that band’s more instrumental heavy tracks you’d definitely like this song as well.

8 Bytes

Overall for a tiny release like this, Lion Hat spins out some good replay value. The songs dynamic enough to stand alone as instrumentals and its upbeat nature certainly lends itself to activities like running or working out. Since this EP, Unicorn Kid has switched his style up quite a bit. His most recent EP, Tidal Rave, is a lot more of a ‘90s trance style record and contrasts a lot with something like Lion Hat. It will be interesting to see what type of sound is more prominent on his debut album, which is expected out this year. Either way this makes for a pretty solid addition to the electro pop playlist and a very fun listen.

—Brian K.-S.