Melo X, the self-proclaimed Renaissance man has teamed up with Cheri Coke to release a free EP with the collaborative name of X/COKE. The EP in a nutshell features quintessentially Melo X beats alongside some blistering vocals from Cheri Coke which as they so eloquently describe; “From bass knocking rhythms to spaced out echos that travel around the proverbial sound scape this project is a natural high for all who listen.”

The brainchild of late night studio sessions in MeLo's native Brooklyn, X/COKE is a force to be reckoned with right from the off;

‘The Garden of Eden’ – showcases Melo X’s production with a mellowed out beat and wonderfully eclectic soundscape. The stings are introduced with precision and the bass at the end is an added treat. ‘Interlude’ is far from being just an interlude with a funky bass line and subtle high hat. ‘Lite Years’ shuffles around with Cheri Coke’s vocals stealing the show but highlights the synergy between the two artists.

‘Honorable Mentions (Impromtu)’ is a little sporadic and has an almost Si-fi element to it. With sounds that would be more comfortable on the ‘2001 – A Space Odyssey’ soundtrack perhaps it works better as an interlude. ‘Free’ kicks off with African sounding drums and Melo joins in for the catchy chorus.

Melo steps up to the mic again for ‘Ryder (IJS)’ that puts his talents as an emcee on display. Having previously reviewed his take on Frank Ocean's – White we already know he is a strong rapper and there are no surprises here with his flow on ‘Ryder’.

The EP finishes on a personal favourite which is ‘Sour times’ covering trip-hop icons Portishead. The two do it justice and keep the tracks darker sound and Cheri’s vocals are spot on.

Overall a very strong EP, Melo X is a brilliantly creative producer and Cheri Coke’s vocals and near enough flawless.

The best things in life are free.