EP Review: Love Games

Veronika Bell, known to music fans as Vikae, has been composing and producing music for a good few years, and is gaining some crossover traction between the dance and pop worlds.

While she writes many of her tunes on a piano, and can perform them beautifully with piano and her impressive voice, it is the dance-styled pop versions of her tune which have been garnering her acclaim.

On the 5-song Love Games EP she teams up with her regular collaborator Abigail Knudson, who’s intelligent and funky production really takes theses beautifully penned songs to radio and dancefloor ready bangers.

Mastering on Love Games is by Dan Martin, and it’s truly top shelf.

The EP opens with Lonely Doll, it is a beautiful way to introduce the release’s narrative; relationships, lessons learned, all teamed up with an ultra-modern, yet timeless style of composition and arrangement.

The title track Love Games is a dead set banger, set for both commercial radio and chart success, with the song also having the ability to fill dancefloors when performed live.

Who would stay with me, is a more reflective piece, with Vikae grappling with self-doubt.

Destination Nowhere is my personal favourite, it’s recorded live and showcases Vikae’s stunning vocal ability. She has quite a stunning vocal range, and it is practically all on display in this beautiful piano and vocal number.

The closing song Final Breakdown is a fabulous way to bring the 5 song EP to a close. It is beautifully produced electronica, with definite nods to the 1980’s and 1990’s, especially in what sounds like some classic Roland drum sounds. While I love hearing Vikae’s voice raw and unaffected, all the digital effects it is layered with on this track really suit the narrative, of the closing of a relationship which turned to shite.

This is an excellent EP, which I recommend to any and all.

The easiest five stars I’ve ever given, I’d give if 6 out of five, but logic dictates I can’t.