17-Mar-2003 9:49 PM - Logan - Love, Said Gas (1o tx, 37'48'' - Psychotica Rec, 'o3 - Distr. Goodfellas) - I Logan già Li avevo recensiti per il precedente ep qui su koma, - Terzetto italiano, sorta di disordine matematico Albiniano in molte sonorità, ruvidi, tortuoso indie noise con pochi effetti speciali x la gtr; - ora se ne escono con un cd lungo che con i nuovi pezzi integra anche quelli del sopra citato, tutti registrati in presa diretta, - con ottima resa. Distribuzione Goodfellas, il che è bene. E a 1o euro. Faccio qualche domanda a Psichic (gtr) aka Michele x parlare anche della Sua etichetta, la Psychotica [-› intervista]. // Logan - Love, Said Gas (1o tx, 37'48'' - Psychotica Rec, 'o3 - Distr. Goodfellas) - I already wrote on koma about Logan's former ep debut, - italian Trio, sort of math Albini-an desorder in several episodes, - rancid, swirling indie noise with few special efx on gtr. Now it's time for a full lenght release, self produced by guitarist' label, and distributed by Goodfellas (good indie channel), - featuring former ep songs and new ones, - live recorded in a very good work. I chatted with Psichic aka Michele, - at moment interview is only in italian, - but i'm going to do it asap. Cd costs only 1o euro/$.

17-Mar-2003 9:39 PM - Asobi Seksu - s/t (11tx, 39'53'' - Self Prod., 'o3) - Diciamo che ho avuto la fortuna di assistere passo passo alla genesi (e quindi a ricevere i cd) degli Asobi Seksu, traduzione giapponese x Sport Fuck, nome che poi utilizzavano all'inizio (vedi passate recensio), la "Scopata Sportiva": - inizialmente tutto partiva da un Gruppone psycho_edelico lisergico di New York, a nome Theta Wave State (intervistati su koma#1), poi l'arrivo della cantante Yuki Chikudate e cambio di formazione ha dato modo al Gruppo di fare una virata pop lo-fi che coinvolgesse anche distorsioni lascive alla My Bloody Valentine e rumoristica alla Sonic Youth. Il nuovo cd, che riprende alcuni pezzi del precedente ep (leggi koma#9), viaggia ancora incerto (o libero) su quale strada scegliere, tra ballate romantiche (It's too Late, End at the Beginning), pop sbarazzino in lingua jappanoise (la traccia di apertura), o noise new-yorkese su Let Them Wait, - dividendosi o unendosi alla voce Lei e James Hanna (oramai dimentico dei tempi in cui il cursore del volume del suo microfono era a meno di uno), spesso struggenti ed evocativi (Taiyo). Mp3 presenti su mp3.com, e sul Loro sito, - naturalmente consigliati. // Asobi Seksu - s/t (11tx, 39'53'' - Self Prod., 'o3) - I feel sort of lucky, because i have had the chance to follow step by step Asobi Seksu's genesis, - translation for Sport Fuck, that is Their former name (check out past reviews): at the beginning The Thing was Theta Wave State (interviewed on koma#1), - psych(o)edelic amazing Band from New York, lost on slow lysergical trips. Then japanese muse Yuki Chikudate joined the Band for a track on Their first and only full lenght and it's been Luv. - Line-up changed, and Asobi Seksu started a new trip on indie lo-fi pop Music, calling droning distorted guitars à la My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth-ish noise. - New cd, containing some of fomer ep too (read koma#9) - floats sort of doubtfull (or still free to decide) between romantic ballads (It's too Late, End at the Beginning), catchy pop in japa-noise language (opening track) or new-york print noise too, on Let Them Wait, - with Her and James Hanna (now forgot of epoch when his microphone volume was on less 1), often melancholic and evocative (Taiyo). Well, have listen on mp3.com or Their homepage.

08-Mar-2003 4:53 PM - Multisofà - s/t (k7 7tx, Best Kept Secret '02) - Pop frizzante per i Multisofà dal Brasile, un pò nella vena leggera dei Kings Of Convenience. Musica per pomeriggi assolati/assonnati, passati a fare nulla e aspettando non si sa che. Ad ogni modo assolutamente irrestibili, sono il gruppo da portarsi in vacanza (non loro, il disco), altrimenti fate come noi che al massimo possiamo portarcelo sui mezzi pubblici mentre ci spostiamo per Roma, visto che non siamo i re della convenienza ma i principi della nullatenenza. Se avete tutti i dischi dei Belle & Sebastian dovete avere anche questa cassetta dei Multisofà, caldamente raccomandata. [__by Vono Box] // Multisofà - s/t (tape 7tx, Best Kept Secret '02) - Sparkling pop Music for Multisofà from Brazil, a bit in a light vein of Kings Of Convenience. Music for afternoon time, sleepy/sunny, spent doing nothing and waiting for You-dont-know-what. Anyway, absolutely irresistible, - a band to go in holidays with (please note, not with the guys, but with the tape), - otherwise, just do like us, - we can hear them by headphones on the bus crossing Rome, - considering we're not kings of any convenience but princes of nuffin'. If You have each Belle & Sebastian's release, i guess You should have this tape too, - warmly recommended. [__by Vono Box]

08-Mar-2003 4:43 PM - The Linger Effect - Beautiful Machine (k7 24tx, Best Kept Secret '02) - The Linger Effect sono autori di un lo-fi pop innestato su ritmi minimali di drum machine e responsabili di melodie accattivanti eseguite da una chitarra legnosa. L'andatura androide delle composizioni mi porta con la mente agli hit sintetici dei vari Trio, Orchestral Manouvres In The Dark, Cure, suonati però nella vena povera dei Sebadoh, dunque è possibile avvicinarli a diversi episodi del geniale/monumentale 69 Love Songs dei Magnetic Fields. La seconda parte del nastro è priva di sostegni ritmici ma caratterizzata da un suono di chitarra dai timbri caldi e animata da uno spirito cantautorale fortemente influenzato dal dark sound anni 80. Una buona promessa/premessa. [__by Vono Box] // The Linger Effect - Beautiful Machine (tape 24tx, Best Kept Secret '02) The Linger Effect are authors of a low fi pop grafted on minimal drumming rythms, and responsable of catchy melodies, performed by a wooden guitar. Android-like motion on songwriting lets me remind me of synth hits of various Trio, Orchestral Manouvres In The Dark, Cure, performed in a Sebadoh-ish spirit, - then it's also possible to cite some different episodes of genious/monumental 69 Love Songs by Magnetic Fields. Side B is lack in rythmic substains, but strong of a guitar sound full of warm prints, with 8os influences that breath through. A good promise/intro. [__by Vono Box]

08-Mar-2003 4:21 PM - Minmae - A Record About Us (k7 11tx, Best Kept Secret '02) - Minmae sono artefici di un pop malinconico con ampie influenze lo-fi, il sound è infatti decisamente anni '90. Batteria suonata con le spazzole, melodie scarne e in aroma di slow-core, qualche grumo di elettronica e l'atmosfera che crea la magia (non posso usare una parola diversa da questa) specie quando i Minmae tirano il freno del ritmo per la manovra d'avvicinamento ai Low (tra l' altro siedendo nell'astronave degli Autechre). Mi domando se gruppi come questo mandino i loro dischi solo a noi di komakino, perchè vi giuro che solo negli ultimi mesi tra le cose che ci sono arrivate ho ascoltato della musica di una bellezza inspiegabile, come cazz... è possibile che queste cose non si sentono in giro? Musicbiz di merda, se non avete un sasso al posto del cuore comprate questa cassetta... [__by Vono Box] // Minmae - A Record About Us (tape 11tx, Best Kept Secret '02) - Minmae are creators of a melancholic pop Music with wide lo-fi influences, - Their sound is decisively à la 9os. Drums played by brushes, thin melodies and in a slow-core vein, - some seeds of electronic and an atmosphere able to create the magic (i cannot but use right this word), especially when Minmae slow down the rythm to come close to the Low (and also calling the Autechre). I wonder if bands like Minmae reach only fanzines like komakino, or They go further, - because i'm ready to swear that in last months, i've been into few sonorities of a inexpressible beauty, - how the fuc**---... is possible that Minmae are not broadcasted around? Fucking Musicbiz, - if You haven't got a stone in your heart, go and buy this tape.. [__by Vono Box]

02-Mar-2003 4:09 PM - Sauvie Island Moon Rocket Factory - [traduzione in italiano] - Best Kept Secret, tape label from Vicenza, italy, proposes us 3 releases for Sauvie Island Moon Rocket Factory. Mudpuddle Park is an album full of influences from 6o's, with stronge suspects of early R.E.M., Pink Floyd of Barrett's age, besides being the tape i prefer of Theirs. Honestly, it was since a long long time i didn't cross songs made like these ones, - it seemed that everybody had forgot lessions of 8o's psychedelic revival, - but Sauvie Island Moon Rocket Factory didn't. GREAT! With songs from Wy' East Can't Sleep and Super 8 Soundtrack They take a distance from Stipe's band route, and They sound more and more skilled creators of certain lysergical as well as soft atmospheres, thanks to a range of impressive ballads. Songs are immersed in suggestive space scenographies, full of interstellar reverbs, but also well chained with a song-writer formula. Sauvie Island Moon Rocket Factory are some amazing creative calligraphists (They remind me a bit of our local loved Jenniffer Gentle, after a psychiatric/mental treatment). Put Your hands on Mudpuddle Park (as regards me, it's got best numbers). // Mp3s on mp3.com/littlesongs [______by Vono Box]

'Paolo! I'm glad everything is working out for you. Those of us who create for the love of it often tangle with the details of our own existence. This is why I'm a waiter feeding tables three days a week and Linc works in a bookstore. These days, don't we all live like Dostoyevsky? I digress. Thank you for the interview. Like all good things, it was worth the wait [shit, i know, it took me so long to prepare this stuff, guys ^_^, - k's note]. Actually, your timing was perfect. Alot has happened the last few weeks and you caught both Linc and I around the computer. Here are our responses: DK = David Klopfenstein LM = Lincoln McGrath'

1. ok, introduce Your-self, You know, always that old opening question.. where are You from, and where are You going to?
DK: Dave. Portland, Oregon. I'm slowly going from today to tomorrow under a little patch of sky.
LM: I'm Linc, from Portland also. I hope to go to Italy some day.

2. why people should NOT listen to Your Music.
DK: Long answer: They lack the tools necessary to interface with our paradigm. Short answer: They hate lullabyes and tape hiss.
LM: because they're out of hashish. no really, you shouldn't listen to us if you want slick clean sound with nothing out of place or off-key. we do what we do the only way we know how.

3. three tapes on BKS mean a lot of songs, do You have a kind of Muse? What does Music mean for You?
DK: A muse? Yes, one could say that an epic romantic story with an unhappy ending led to a thousand nights of songwriting. She was amazing. Life goes on. To answer the second part, I'll paraphrase Brian Wilson: I write about girls, cars -- in my case
machines -- and where I live. Music goes through you, like a radio. It isn't from you.
LM: Dave is a song-making machine. I just try to hang on. I think it was Neitsche who said "without music, life would be a mistake."

4. at komakino, we think SIMRF is a real undiscovered 'gem', are You in touch with any other name besides BKS? D You perform live too?
DK: Thank you. Our only goal is sharing our music. To that end, it has been very difficult to find the right people. Alessandro [Crestani, - k'snote] shares our philosophy and working with him is a pleasure. We will be releasing "Stolen: Honda Dream" this year on Best Kept Secret. It is still in the early stages, but we are very excited to be working with A Bouncing Space [good indie label already met on koma - k's note ] on a full-length release. Also, when we finally get some stuff to Bliss, we hope to be on an upcoming compilation. I love to play live. Ross & the Hellpets are my favorite Portland band. It's always fun to share a night with them and I hope we tour together someday. I also play drums for the Persimmons.
LM: you know, I've always thought so, but Alessandro is the first to think it was worth putting on his label. we play live when we can, but Portland has so many bands that it's hard to get an interesting show put together. I should add that we're ready to tour Europe any time...

5. do You use to re-listen to Your own Music in Your everyday life?
DK: It plays in my head constantly.
LM: I put our old stuff on every once in a while when I start to forget what it sounds like.

6. what Bands/Names can we relate to Your songwriting? Let's help people to image what they risk to meet..
DK: I will side step that question this way: If my space capsule washed up on a desert island and I had to kill a little time before I met a Jeannie, I would need these records: Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys, the 8 1/2 soundtrack by Nino Rota, Something Else by the Kinks and Sister Lovers from Big Star. I would also want Linda Smith, the Clean and some old Roger Miller. Then, I could look for Barbara Eden and Bill Dailey.
LM: boy, that's a tough one for me. I was reminded of Syd Barrett when I first heard Dave's stuff, but I think he's past that phase... me I like everything, pretty much. when I was really small, my parents played me a lot of broadway musicals and American folk music.

7. Rocket Isla..what? Usually i don't ask about Band's name.. in Your case, i do...
DK: It seemed long and absurd at a time when people were obsessed with one word band names, so we kept it. The ironic twist is that many dangerous defense facilities in the United States are nestled in wildlife areas. Sauvie Island is downstream from two of the most notorious.
LM: Sauvie Island is the largest fresh-water island in Western America. there's your little geography lesson. it's right here in the Portland area and you can take a #17 bus out there from close to where I'm sitting, if you have all day. the Moon Rocket Factory is a little thing Dave and his brother Tim cooked up when they were little. there's this grain silo there that is pretty intimidating to a little kid, very big and ominous. why we decided to name our band that is another thing--I guess it's the dorkiest thing we could come up with.

Thanks,

Dave and Linc

02-Mar-2003 3:42 PM - Potion - Circa (4tx ep - 'o2 self-prod.) - From San Francisco, CA, - such so groovy, 6o's retrò taste, pop duo with a close-up on Annie Maley, silky voice, a sort of 'distant' beauty, cold but drifting, between mellow and fascinating. Let's add some new-wave_ish electronic, keybs and guitar, played by Michel Diaz De Bedoya. Memories of Blondie, The Cardigans, Stereolab (but surely less sophisticated as regards Their eclectic song-writing, because Potion have got a diy soul, here). I'd be curious to hear how They would sound with a real drummer, even if here drum machines are well settled. French language fits well with Their voyeur style on Lovelectronic, and Cadence, on two voices, might be a good indie dancefloor hit, to be danced with a pullover, snapping fingers.. This ep follows Their full-lenght Among Dreams, check Their website or on vitaminc for listening. // Potion - Circa (4tx ep - 'o2 self-prod.) - Da San Francisco, CA, - molto godibili, gusto retrç anni 6o, con al centro la voce di Annie Maley, voce setosa, bellezza distante, algida ma avvolgente, tra il melioso e il fascinoso. Il tutto da unirsi a dell'elettronica su scia new-wave, tastiere e chitarra suonata da Michel Diaz De Bedoya. Tra Blondie, The Cardigans, Stereolab (ma meno sofisticati sicuramente nel song-writing eclettico, dato che i Potion sono + di sangue diy). - Sarei curioso di ascoltarli con un batterista in carne ed ossa, anche se la drum-machine è ben curata da Michel. - La lingua francese su Lovelectronic si confa bene al Loro stile voyeur, e Cadence, a due voci, potrebbe essere un bell'hit indie dancefloor, da ballare con maglione a collo alto.. schioccando le dita. // Questo ep fa seguiti all'album Among Dreams, ascoltate i pezzi su vitaminc o controllate il Loro sito.

-> -> -> February is over there ##