Standing on the edge of greatness.
Azurestrangelove | Upstate NY, USA | 02/18/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"There's nothing better than discovering yet another great synthpop band amidst the tides of the unknown. Just how unknown still remains a mystery but I hope that more material from this band exists outside of it's singles from it's 2000 full length release, rather than the thought of this band disintegrating due to lack of popularity which would have to be from little exposure. Perhaps a little research is in order.
As for this sinfully inexpensive gem of a release, I find myself torn between giving 4 or 5 stars. When I first listened to it, I thought that it was good, not great but good. But like almost all decent, darker toned, club oriented synthpop, it was hard to put this one away after only a few listens and even harder to regard this band as an understatement. It's not hard to regard KAJ as anything other than a synthpop band, as it perfectly fits the model of what synthpop today stands for. The beat, the melody, the lyrics--it all adds up here into what is some pretty straightforward synthpop. Although "Picture on the wall" somewhat skates along on beats that are almost EBM styled, I found myself reminded most the band Iris, in a more high energy incarnation.
"Picture on the wall" is a pleasantly melodic dance encounter with decent enough lyrics, but it's "Follow me" and the beatbox inspired "Under the moon" that get my attention the most. "Follow me" has the most wistful, captivating lyrics that fit the song so well. "Under the moon" strays from the formula a bit and presents an experimental song that focuses more on the different vocals as the instruments rather than the music itself. Which proves KAJ's appealing flexibility as artists.
4 and 1/2 stars because the lyrics on "Picture on the wall" could be better and because this band hasn't established itself well enough to be on the same platform of some of the founding synth masters of our era. I only hope that KAJ isn't just a one album wonder, because this band has the potential for so much more great things yet to come."
Track Listings (5) - Disc #1