By using mechanised beats and reverbed sounds to open this EP, KiKi Holli + The Remedy immediately advertise an interest in taking their audience somewhere that feels a little detached. There’s very little that’s organic about the sound, but in this case “detached” doesn’t mean “cold”. As the first couple of verses of ‘Something About You’ play out, it becomes clear that this number’s music draws from different sources, but pretty much exists in its own world. The rhythms of this track call back to the trip hop movement of the 90s; the sparsely applied electric guitar chords – chopping with a sharp edge, but never feeling intrusive – lend more of a film score quality, leaning towards a couple of 90s Bond themes, but in contrast, Holli’s lead vocal takes on a smooth presence, crying each line as if drowning in a soul/R&B arrangement. …And it’s that voice that helps this to really shine, and also to invite the audience deeper into the band’s world, even at times when the music might seem a little more aloof. This takes several plays before it’s true magic shines through, but at the point where things start to click, chances are, the listener will consider Holli’s vocal style incredibly alluring, and want to hear more. Potentially much more.

Pulling out the acoustic guitar, ‘The Garden’ provides an immediate contrast with the opener, and subsequently applies a great drum groove which lends an indie-ish quality to the arrangement. It’s not specifically an “indie” track, however; a light lead vocal leans a little further into dream pop; a world of layered voices create a huge harmony on the pre-chorus and beyond, offering more of a retro adult pop vibe, and latterly, a string sound fleshes out everything to create something a little more grand. Holli adds a great lead throughout, and although the lyrical hook isn’t necessarily immediate, the singer is clearly more than aware of how much extra melody her sizeable musical presence brings – and that’s more than enough to make this track work with aplomb.

It’s all change again when the jangling guitars, fat bass sounds and blanket synths of ‘So Far Away’ evoke material from The Cure circa 1985-87, an influence highlighted further by an occasional lead guitar that faintly echoes tracks like ‘Just Like Heaven’. Beyond that, a soaring vocal brings a different tone to a few familiar sounds, and Holli’s decision to sing in a slightly lower register adds even more of an atmosphere here. This is the catchiest of the EP tracks, but arguably the least original sounding number. However, with a nostalgic arrangement and some great vocals on show, it’ll perk up any well-curated streaming playlist, while ‘Brand New Day’ reintroduces the programmed beats to provide a link with the opening number. Here, the punching rhythms take on a different stance, underscoring a track that sounds like a throwback to Goldfrapp’s ‘Ooh La La’. Naturally, this bigger, almost swaggering arrangement allows Holli to share an even bigger vocal throughout, and she makes the best of some very radio-friendly hooks. The blasts of brass coming through the keys are a little too jarring a throwback, but that doesn’t spoil an otherwise great number.

There are several reasons to check out this EP, but it’s crowning glory comes in the form of an inspired cover tune. The INXS track ‘Don’t Change’ was always one of the band’s finest (its position as the final track on their 1983 LP ‘Shabooh Shoobah’ earns it the accolade of one of the greatest album closers ever), and it seems to be one of those songs that shines no matter whose hands it’s in. As part of The Remedy’s repertoire, it provides a grand turn as a slow, spacious torch ballad, with Holli’s huge voice taking centre stage. With the once stadium rock arrangement reduced to a world of finger picked acoustic guitars and droning keys, the minimalist approach means the listener has no choice but to focus on the voice. Presented in a Lana Del Rey-ish mood, the melody sounds incredible, and KiKi’s dominant presence means the imploring lyric sounds even more aching than ever before. If the original ‘Don’t Change’, somehow, has become one of those songs you wished you’d never hear again, this could easily make your mind. It’s lovely.

In some ways, the cover tune outshines Kiki’s own compositions, partly through a huge familiarity with the source material, but there’s a lot to enjoy here. ‘Something About You’ provides a fine listen throughout, really building on the potential of the earlier stand alone single ‘Running Out of Time’. With a set of songs that refuse to be directly pigeonholed – adult pop meets retro alternative abd light electronica being the closest descriptor, but that doesn’t really fit or do the best arrangements justice – this is an EP that deserves the time required for a couple of the songs to shine, but by offering a very smart twist on some familiar influences, it’s a recommended listen.

June 2026