There’s something quietly defiant about The Woven Project not letting Laura’s Kitchen just drift off into the past. This EP isn’t a flashy comeback or a desperate grab for relevance. It’s two reworks of the same track, released simply because something sparked again when it really shouldn’t have.
Originally written during lockdown in 2020, Laura’s Kitchen was born out of media overload and psychological fatigue, and these two versions don’t rewrite that feeling so much as sit with it from different angles. The Intro version opens things up slowly, almost cautiously. It’s spacious and reflective, letting silence and texture do a lot of the emotional heavy lifting. There’s a calm patience to it that feels intentional, especially in a genre that often rushes straight for impact. The warmth in the production still hints at the band’s folk roots, even as it leans into electronic territory.
What really works here is the restraint. Nothing feels overworked or glossy. The mood is carried by atmosphere rather than obvious hooks, which makes it genuinely immersive. It’s easy to understand why it landed an early spin on Amazing Radio’s Beats To Chill To playlist. That said, it does flirt with fading too far into the background at times. A slightly stronger melodic anchor earlier on could have helped it stick a little harder, particularly for listeners coming to it fresh.
The Outro takes a sharp left turn. Reworked by OuNoSoGo, it drags Laura’s Kitchen into darker, more physical territory, driven by late-night tension and clear drum and bass influence. This is where the track stops drifting and starts pacing. The rhythm hits with purpose, the mood tightens, and the unease becomes more immediate. It feels less like reflection and more like the moment after — when the thoughts stop floating and start pressing in.
In terms of impact, the Outro arguably lands harder. It commits fully to its shadowy atmosphere and doesn’t shy away from weight or grit. The low end gives it real presence, and the production feels confident without being flashy. Still, there are moments where the darkness feels a little too familiar. Pushing it further — either stripping it back more brutally or leaning into something more confrontational — could have made it genuinely unsettling rather than just brooding.
What really holds this EP together is the story behind it. The Woven Project’s shift from a fluid, acoustic collective into a more electronic, loop-based setup gives these tracks a depth you can feel, even when it isn’t obvious. You can hear echoes of their earlier lives in the spaces between the beats — the folk melancholy, the sense of ensemble, the years of touring followed by burnout.
As a closing statement to a three-year journey, this release feels fitting. It doesn’t shout for attention or chase resolution. If anything, it leaves you wanting just a touch more risk, a little more push beyond the comfort zone. But maybe that’s the point.
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