Egyptian Hip Hop - Some Reptiles Grew Wings EP (2010) [Moshi Moshi] // Grade: B

Egyptian Hip Hop are a Manchester based four piece, that are neither Egyptian, nor hip hop artists, but the unforgettable name was enough to grab your attention, right?! We’ve actually written about them here on the Bloglin before. Curators of an indie-pop sound that draws from new wave and lo-fi, Egyptian Hip Hop are kicking up a lot of heat in the UK right now with their new EP Some Reptiles Grew Wings.

Debut single “Rad Pitt” is the clear standout on the EP, with cleaner production than the other 3 tracks, it sees the vocals of frontman Alex Hewitt, strewn over dreamy chorus laden guitars. “Bide the time, sit around and wasting days I could have had,” croons Hewitt. While the lyrics probably won’t blow you out of the water, they don’t really need to, these guys are all only seventeen, so have lives to live. That’s the part that I left out, Egyptian Hip Hop are youngsters who share an accumulative age of 68 years. Back to the record though, “Middle Name Period” is a solid instrumental track of guitar stabs and simple ascending synthlines, the dynamic between that and “Rad Pitt” makes “Middle Name Period” sound either live, or under produced. Yet it is final track “Native” that provides the greatest contrast on the EP, a fantastic track of elongated ethnic samples driving a slower lo-fi sound, that really winds down the record, as well as demonstrate the versatility of the band.

Egyptian Hip Hop have recently been working with Sam Eastgate of Late of the Pier, who’s been producing their sound in style reminiscent of early DFA releases from LCD Soundsystem and The Rapture before them. Undoubtedly, with a great number of years ahead, Some Reptiles Grew EP is an impressive debut and Egyptian Hip Hop are band to watch as they mature with age and releases.

- SweetFA