SONG OF THE DAY
“18 Hours (Of Love)” by K-X-P (K-X-P [self-titled album], Smalltown Supersound Records, 2010).
MY TAKE
This is a weird one. Not normally my style, and to be honest, I don’t have a clue what the bio is talking about below. Krautrock? Yeah, not a clue. But I heard it on the radio while I was driving, and luckily the DJ announced the name of the song, and I thought “why not?”.
BAND BIO (a la pitchfork.com & last.fm)
– K-X-P is a groundbreaking rock trio consisting of Timo Kaukolampi (producer of another band Annie) and Tuomo Puranen of Op:l Bastards fame and Anssi Nykänen, a weathered session drummer.
– The main reference of their hypnotic music is krautrock from 40 years back, but they do throw in a few afrobeat rhythms, ominously cinematic keyboard sound walls, hippy Middle Eastern melodies and some dancey pulse.
– Kaukolampi’s idiosyncratic singing style has been sorely missed, although it comes only in small doses this time.
– Here and there you can also make out the distant breathy vocals of Norwegian pop princess Annie.
– K-X-P will release their self-titled debut July 20 via Smalltown Supersound.
– The band has been championed by venerable Scottish DJ duo Optimo, and was invited to perform at Optimo’s final night of residency at Glasgow’s Sub Club a few months back. Now, Optimo has remixed the menacing album cut “18 Hours (of Love)”, lending it some minimal techno touches, as well as a throbbing, circular backbeat.