SONIC MASALA: Kuato

Sunday, 28 August 2011

Kuato's Summer

Photo courtesy of Ashley Theriault

Ah Kuato, you crazy kids! If you don't remember, these Halifax-based, Total Recall-monikered post rockers put out an EP earlier this year called Winter - and the songs, whilst brooding numbers, held titles as deliriously stupid as 'Schindler's Lisp'. The brilliance of this is that, as genre compatriots (and veritable gods) Mogwai can attest to, the titles are superfluous, so why not make them weird and funny? To follow the trend and the seasons, the new EP is called Summer and features equally awesomely retarded song titles, as can be seen with the track on offer below. The others? 'Frances The Mutant' and 'Iraqnophobia' (my personal fave). It continues the progressive meanderings these guys are constructing within the instrumental rock realm, and the juxtaposition between posturing aural ruminations and cathartic swathes of electric storm is effective as always. You can check this EP out over at Acadian Embassy. Get into this Kuato before the TC remake butchers it for all and sundry...

Kuato - Afghanistandard

Saturday, 19 February 2011

How Kuato Gave Schindler His Lisp

Halifax post rock band Kuato have released their second EP Winter - three mammoth tracks that showcase the burgeoning ferocity that is building within their core sonic dynamic. Their titles walk the tightrope between funny and ridiculous ('Pet Seminary', 'Schindler's Lisp', 'Anarchy In The Ukraine'), but wordplay aside, these tracks beautifully orchestrate the effectiveness of the quiet/loud mantra, Kuato adding a sonic brevity that their idols (Pelican, Rodan, Slint) wielded in emphatic fashion. I am particularly gripped by 'Schindler's Lisp', a track that rolls forward deceptively, like a tank, before letting fire on unsuspecting ears. There is an innate ferocity to these tracks without the preciseness of the likes of Pelican, and such rawness adds power necessary to drive this release to the top of the sonic pile. A worthy little release, this one. And a brilliant Total Recall reference too!

You can grab Winter and their earlier EP at their Bandcamp site.

Kuato - Schindler's Lisp

About

It was early on a Sunday morning at ATP - A Nightmare Before Christmas 2009. After downing a fair few, at 4am we decided to cook a curry. It was during the consumption of this drunkenly delicious breakfast treat that we decided to actually do something about the music we talk about all the time.

So we started a blog – and Sonic Masala was born. Now into its seventh year, the blog has spread out to call both Australia and the UK its home (and the rest of the world), and has expanded to include gigs, festivals and a record label under its black umbrella. Come on, eat the noize.

If an mp3 is up here, it's because we have been talking about it, and think the whole world needs to know more. It's there to give you a little taste. Then, if you like, check out the band live and spend all your hard earned cash on their records. If we've posted up an mp3 of your stuff and you're not too keen on the idea, let us know and we'll happily take it down pronto.