With Causing a Commotion, The New Citizen Kane delivers a shimmering late-summer EP that confidently bridges disco, EDM, and electronic textures into a cohesive body of work. Functioning as both a standalone release and a prelude to the forthcoming Psychedelika project, the EP embodies the artist’s trademark balance between emotional vulnerability and dancefloor-ready energy. Across its tracks, Kane constructs a sonic environment where rhythm, synth design, and atmosphere collide in vibrant, kaleidoscopic form.
The centerpiece, Subconscious, makes its return here in two divergent radio mixes: The Reason Radio Mix and The Primordial Radio Mix. The duality of these versions reflects the EP’s conceptual heart. The first is refined and restrained, leaning on steady grooves and precise synth layering that echo the voice of reason and control. The second, by contrast, surges with urgency and instinct, where synths pulse with raw momentum and the beat builds an intoxicating sense of inevitability. Together, they highlight the core theme of internal conflict—mind versus heart—while giving listeners two distinct rhythmic interpretations of desire and surrender.
Another highlight comes with San Diego (Synthphonica Radio Mix), a streaming favorite that encapsulates Kane’s knack for weaving nostalgia into modern electronic frameworks. Its rhythm flows effortlessly, riding on crisp percussion and warm synth pads that evoke hazy summer evenings. The track feels both intimate and expansive, a balance achieved through subtle layering of melodic motifs and hypnotic rhythmic cycles. This ability to create music that resonates on both personal and communal levels is a defining trait of Kane’s approach.
The EP also introduces Bubble Gum Hot, a playful yet bittersweet track that teases the broader Psychedelika universe. Here, the rhythmic foundations are lighter, driven by buoyant synth lines and effervescent grooves that mirror its lyrical ode to fleeting young love. Its structure is deceptively simple, but beneath the surface lies a meticulous arrangement of syncopated percussion and glossy synth flourishes, all of which capture the tension between carefree sweetness and inevitable transience.
Exclusive to this release, the titular Causing a Commotion pushes the disco-electronic fusion further. Its rhythm is built on a driving four-on-the-floor kick, interwoven with syncopated hi-hats and synth stabs that create a sense of perpetual motion. The track thrives on repetition, but its evolving textures—glittering arpeggios, filtered breakdowns, and a soaring synth lead—generate an atmosphere of urgency and release. It is both a statement of intent and an invitation into Kane’s expanding sonic world.
Adding to the collection are reimagined versions of Hearts Aren’t Made of Wood ‘25 and Meet Me On Street Corners (Synthphonica Radio Mix), which recontextualize earlier fan favorites. These tracks show how rhythm and atmosphere can be reshaped without losing emotional weight, highlighting Kane’s versatility as a producer.
Overall, Causing a Commotion is a high-quality release that situates itself between nostalgia and forward-thinking experimentation. Its rhythmic foundations are strong, its synth work lush yet deliberate, and its atmosphere immersive without being overwhelming. More than just an EP, it is a sunlit gateway into the ambitious multi-sensory world of Psychedelika, offering both longtime fans and new listeners a glimpse of what’s to come.