GENRE; 90s Rock/ Alt Rock Pop/ Indie Pop/ Pop-Punk/ Rock Pop/ Indie Rock

RELEASE DATE; 10 September, 2026

RATING; 4/5

The EP ‘Double A Side 2 (Akaroa / Erica And The Stars)’ places Reetoxa in a bold and creative environment, bringing together Jason Mckee’s highly personal approach to songwriting with a strong group of experienced performers and production professionals. It manages to combine close-up storytelling with a broad and detailed musical arrangement, achieving a sense of grandeur without neglecting the experiences that have inspired it. This is an thoughtfully put together piece which shows a high level of care in the recording process.

McKee’s method is especially convincing since his inspiration is based on real-life experience rather than being derived from a standard set of artistic influences. Although the work was created during times of severe personal difficulty, the final result is characterised by creativity and determination. The songwriting, arranging, and performing form the core of his approach, with the other musicians assisting in turning his ideas into a more complete recorded version.

The credit list shows how extensive the collaboration was. Simon Moro was in charge of production, mixing and mastering, while Luke Crouch acted as engineer. Terry HarT played piano, James Ryan played guitar, Kit Riley handled the bass and Peter Martin provided the drumming. Jessica Mcpherson-Riley contributed backing vocals, and the Budapest Orchestra helped to enlarge the scale of “Erica And The Stars”. The fact that the recordings were made in both Cheltenham and Victoria as well as in Budapest gives the project its special international character.

The most noticeable aspect is the care that has been taken to realise Mckee’s original vision. Since the orchestral element was particularly important to the project, it was included in order to reproduce the sound that he had imagined when composing the music. This link between the first idea and the final recording gives the EP a strong sense of purpose. “Double A Side 2” has an ambitious feel without at the same time losing touch with its personal origins, which results in a well-polished and thoughtful release that puts Reetoxa’s songwriting right at its heart.

Track Listing

1. Akaroa

2. Erica And the Stars

3. Akaroa (Karaoke)

4. Erica And the Stars (Karaoke)

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