Ihaka blurs dream states and noise on HELP! I’m Stuck In Genesis

Nineteen years young with a musical maturity that defies time, Ihaka has released his debut EP, HELP! I’m Stuck In Genesis.

Creation can be chaotic and unpredictable for those of us who trust the muse. Ihaka has woven a collection of ideas into brooding mood scenes, making themselves known to those who listen carefully. This EP exists in pockets, each one unique, intentional and unpredictable in the best way possible.

Familiar textures that sing in new ways. Dynamics. Feeling. Subtlety. Acoustic waves. These are the tools of Ihaka. There is noise and distortion too, but not in a traditional sense. Sometimes it is in time and then it isn't... or was it?

Overall, the release paints a dreamlike experience. Moving in and out of consciousness with converging realities that feel almost calming. Then... synths, sax and lasers too (what?!).

Ihaka reminds of an abstract Radiohead plugged into an Incubus pop machine filter. Crank the high pass, play it back through a tape player and you're somewhere in the vicinity.

Best enjoyed as a cohesive body of work, yet each track stands alone. Starworks and Kaleidoscope are perhaps the strongest songs, with Moon Scar offering the appeal of an entry point single.

HELP! I’m Stuck In Genesis is the kind of debut that doesn't ask for permission. With this type of quality, it never needed to.