What Makes It Go?

"They're the mssing link between The B-52s and Stereolab!"! I blurted after my very 1st listen to Komeda's 2nd album. I haven't had another insightfull or constructive thought about them since. (And, let's face it, even that one isn't particularly startling.) The only other thing that comes to mind every time I hear their toe tapping sophistication is that I like them quite an awful lot.

Although I can never quite work out why.

mp3: It's Alright, Baby

Their pop is a mix of cool, euro vocals, sympathetic bleeps and bloops from analogue synths, occassional brash guitar strumming all entwined by a tight backbeat and some warm chord progressions.

mp3: Binario

I don't know what it is about northern Europe in this initial decade of the 21st century (saying that still reminds me of "Duck Dodgers"). But there's a huge amount of good music being made there now. All those weirdo electronic, psychedelic and glacial sounds + the continuing pop contingent. But not much from Komeda any more, unfortunately!

mp3: Stjarna

Their official website no longer exists, their last, and possibly best album - Kokomemedada - wasn't distributed outside Europe and their only fan website indicates they've gone into individual theatre projects (fer chrisakes, that's the very last option, isn't it?). At least you can still see their fabulous animated video for B.L.O.S.S.O.M. but you'll need quicktime (it's well worth the long wait too.)

And their darker side (itimating their demise?) is just lovely:

mp3: Dead