Could Have Been (EP) - The New Citizen Kane (Pop) This week we have the privilege to review a collection of Top 40 bops with The New Citizen Kane’s latest EP “Could Have Been”. Sonically cohesive and musically engaging, the EP is one of those “no skips” projects that we are always hungry for. But before we dive into our favorites of the 6 tracks, we’ll start with a bit about our artist.

Singer, songwriter and producer Kane Luke’s latest incarnation was born in 2010 out of London, after parting ways with Milan’s Fuorifase Records. Compared to the likes of George Michael, Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys, Kane started his career early, starting on the theater circuit at 17 and eventually recording his first EP “Now Or Never” at 18. A multi-talented artist, Kane’s resume includes modeling, acting and sound engineering. By 2008 he had a club hit on his hands, “Don’t Feel No Shame”, followed by “Spun Like Sugar”. Now rebranded as The New Citizen Kane, he’s been busy with releases including 2014’s album “It’s Not Science…It’s A Feeling” and EPs including “Endless Summer Serenade”.

His latest, “Could Have Been”, is a departure from Endless Summer, taking a more intimate route after a collection of sun-soaked vibes. The lyrics are heartfelt and contain enough specificity that we are sure that Kane writes from personal experiences of past loves and longing. The tracks contain a palpable warmth that distinguishes it from other pop tracks that, while often engaging, can at times feel a bit soulless. More than a performer and beatmaker, Kane is certainly a storyteller.

Despite the former comparisons to retro flavors, “Could Have Been” feels incredibly current, and if there’s any nostalgia to it at all we feel it only goes back as far as say Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” era. The tracks are brilliantly mixed and mastered, and already primed for dance floors before what we assume will be a bevy of remixes. We feel like any of these tracks could pop up on the DJ sets streamed at the gym, or of course in the clubs. Kane sweetens his vocals with a light tuning effect that brings some additional character and distinctiveness to the lines. It feels like it might be a signature for the artist.

Our favorite track was album opener “Could Have Been”, which is just a straight down the middle pure pop gem. From the brilliant lyrics to the driving chords, the track just has Hot 100 written all over it. On “Could Have Been”, Kane delivers a shining falsetto as he reminisces on a love past. The melody is a real ear-worm, which made this track stay with us long after listening.

The cover track on the album “Talk”—originally by Coldplay—is a turned up summer dance floor spinner, making it almost unrecognizable from the original in all the right ways. While Kane might have been trying to get away from the sun-soaked vibes of his prior EP, we think they might have snuck into this track just a little bit—not that we’re complaining. This is a “grab a cold beer and dance at a midday rooftop party” kind of jam.

But just because we focused on the two tracks that stood out to us, that doesn’t mean you should miss the other four. The EP is strong, consistent and delivers with each song.

Tracks:

• Could Have Been - Radio Mix

• Forget The World

• Talk

• Tonight, Maybe

• Chasting The Past

• Forget The WOrld - Red Man Run’s Schitzophonic Club Mix