The Kick Gives a First Taste of 1+1 With “Wish 4”

The Kick’s “Wish 4” sounds like a daydream that keeps taking weird turns. 

Opening with “I have these dreams where I could wish for anything I could ever want and more,” the California duo eases into a funky, bedroom-pop groove with soft vocals and a catchy guitar melody. “I guess I’m a little bit lucky to see you standing in front of me” is an immediate earworm, but the song has plenty of surprises waiting past its laid-back start.

“Wish 4” also introduces 1+1, the debut album from Ziman and childhood friend Nathan Tsunoda, announced October 16. Ziman, known for his production work with Malcolm Todd, joins Tsunoda to explore their shared influences, which range from Sublime and Earth, Wind & Fire to Beach House and Tame Impala. The 13-track album gives the duo room to experiment, and “Wish 4” wastes little time showing how far they’re willing to take an idea.

The lyrics bounce between lovesick confidence and second-guessing, with the narrator going from wishing for someone to wondering if they’re even real. Meanwhile, the music keeps switching things up. Electronic touches creep into the mellow production before the track spirals into a distorted, psychedelic outro. 

The repeated “I don’t want nobody else” refrain keeps bringing the song back to its lovesick center, even as the production widens around it. The beat switches give the seven-minute track plenty of movement, while the kaleidoscopic visualizer released alongside it fits right in with the song’s colorful sound. 

By the time “Wish 4” winds down, it’s hard not to be curious about what else Ziman and Tsunoda have been cooking up. There’s a lot of personality packed into this track, from the ridiculously catchy hook to the production choices that keep sending it in unexpected directions. 1+1 gives the duo 12 more tracks to play around with, and if they’re having this much fun experimenting on their debut single, it’ll be interesting to hear what else they’ve come up with.

Review by Bek Allegretti