Back in 2013, hip hop fans everywhere were ecstatic when Louis Logic returned from a prolonged hiatus to release his first album in seven years, the brilliant Look On The Blight Side. However, it wasn’t too long after that album came out that Logic once again disappeared from his fans and returned to living a private life in New York. Little did we know, in 2014, after touring with ECID, the two started sending tracks back and forth between each other. Now the result of their collaboration as the group TOYFRiEND, is finally here with their debut EP, foolHEARTY.

While ECID and Louis Logic were on tour together, one of the ways in which they bonded was sharing music outside of hip hop that they both enjoyed. After the tour was over, Logic would send audio files to ECID, usually just vocals and keyboard arrangements played on toy instruments. ECID would then treat these like samples, manipulate them, and then add drum sequences using found sounds. The result is an avant-garde indie pop sound with a hip hop influence. The closest cousin is probably someone like Why?, but TOYFRiEND has a more minimal sound, often just relying on keyboard, vocals, and drums to form the backbone of each song. Logic mostly stays in falsetto over the course of the EP, which along with the minimalist production, gives the release a very vulnerable and intimate sound. It really feels like you’re sitting in the room alone with these two as they unfold these delicate pop songs. The EP features six original songs, with my personal favorite being “Tiniest Heart,” along with two cover songs. The covers are especially interesting, since we get Howard Jones’ “No One Is To Blame,” which is a nice fit alongside their sound, but then we get an a capella version of “You’re the Best.” Yes, the song performed by Joe Esposito for The Karate Kid. It’s an odd choice, but it works in the context of the EP, and allows you to hear the song in a whole new light.

I’m glad to know that Louis Logic isn’t dead, and that his new project with ECID is an interesting and new sound from both of them. Hopefully, we’ll hear more from them sooner rather than later, because it feels like we’ve only scraped the surface with this EP.