Dylan Brady, one-half of the super online hyperpop duo 100 gecs, has taken a bit of a back seat on his solo project career since 2023, to focus on putting out more geckidom music. But somewhat lining up with his solo set at Palomosa, he released a four-song Needle Guy EP this spring, full of some straightforward and not-so-straightforward dance house tunes.
The first track is titled “Throat Song,” and begins with a vibrating and industrial-sounding gurgle, under a standard house beat, that stays with you for the whole track. It’s a strange way to start an EP, but this is Brady we’re talking about, a guy who made a song about Doritos and Fritos with 100 gecs. “Stay High” seems a bit aimless as it starts with some boots n’ cats drum beats, seeming like Brady couldn’t really decide on the beat he wanted, so he ran with everything. The cutesy electro synth lines are very 2000s dancehall, as the vocal line “Stay High” or “Stay High all the time” echoes.
“Ashley,” featuring Afrojack, continues the mid-2000s electronica with some trails into dubstep or UK House; it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what Afrojack does on this track, but he’s there. Then the final and title track, is the darker and more sinister version of “Throat Song,” the gurgles reverberating with the buzzing and repetitive “Neeedle Guy “Needle Guy” “Needle Guy.” I envision Brady will play off these tracks and make them a unique DJ set experience at Palomosa, and if anything, you will be dancing.
