project: komakino - (ep)

As much a lesson in angular design as it is music, the bands gloomy tales are elevated with some precise drumming and heavily effecting guitar pedals. Their sky-facing disorientation echoes These New Puritans, but in an altogether more accessible form. Project: Komakino are also shadowed by their uncanny likeness to Joy Division – most firmly in ‘Transmission’, for it’s monotone vocal and paranoid murmurings. ‘Walking On Glass’ with its spine twitching individual guitar notes feels like a positive mental attitude gone AWOL, succumbing to a less healthy pre-disposition with agoraphobia. The drums are relentless and the repetition of ‘I’ve need to get out, out of my mind’ only seals the induction of fear and disturbance. With a somewhat familiar face to the new brand of dischord, Bonnie K of Electricity in Our Homes fame takes up the production helm. Where EIOH’s Shareholders EP was a prickly affair to challenge its listeners, Project: Komakino is a less intimidating prospect, although no less artistic an endeavour. At a quarter of an hour in length, and including one instrumental in ‘KV-1’, they could afford to push the boat out and display their extra dimensions - that is, presuming they have any. The band emulate the ones they love, but you know what they say about romance; careful not to let it go to your head (even if it is quite good).