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koban vide
Artist: Koban
Title: Vide
Genre: Postpunk
Release Date: 9th July 2014
Label: Weyrd Son Records


Album Review

KOBAN is a duo from Vancouver, composed of Brittany West (bass, vocals, drum programming and synthesizer) and her long-time “partner in crime” Samuel Buss (guitar, vocals, drum programming, synthesizer). Following an EP and a full length recording, the duo is back with a new 6-song EP released by Belgian label Weyrd Son Records (remember the tribute to Snowy Red last year or Marie Davidson's superb debut album earlier this year...).

By the way, the name KOBAN refers to small police cabins in Japan. The music they play is a crossover between Batcave and Postpunk with a touch of Synth-Wave. It is based on tribal drum patterns and brooding bass lines, evoking THE SOFT MOON, SISTERS OF MERCY,... They combine this with shrieking guitar riffs reminiscent of BAUHAUS / SIOUXSIE and vocals sung alternatively by both musicians. On the EP, 4 songs are sung in English and two in French: ‘Rappeler’ and ‘Détacher Et Déguiser’, which makes me think of TÉLÉDÉTENTE 666 (‘Les Rats’) and other contemporary French postpunk bands.

‘Cool Wind’ is probably my favourite track on the EP, with its great minimal intro and its very engaging chorus. ‘Delirium’ and ‘Standing On The Edge’ are in the same line as the previous tracks, providing a nice combination of vintage sounds and modern feelings. The album comes in two editions: one with a pink/ black(!!) splatter vinyl limited to 200 hand-numbered copies and one with a more classical Black splatter vinyl limited to 300 copies. The photography by Ashlee Luk and the cover design by Weyrd Son are remarkable on 300gr Deluxe cardboard sleeve with varnish UV spots...

As a conclusion, it's the first postpunk (guitar-based) release from Weyrd Son Records, a label that had been more specialised in synth-wave up to now, and it's a real success! A must-buy for fans of THE KVB, BAUHAUS, SIOUXSIE, APTBS, etc...


Tracklist

01. 401a
02. Rappeler
03. Détacher et déguiser
04. Cool Wind
05. Delirium
06. Standing On The Edge


Line-up

Brittany West
Samuel Buss


Websites

http://weyrdsonrecords.bandcamp.com/ / https://www.facebook.com/kobanvancouver /
http://koban.bandcamp.com


Cover Picture

koban vide


Rating

Music: 8
Sound:  8
Total: 8 / 10

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