Imoko Set: The Demos EP
Track one, 'I Only Loved You For Your Synthesizer', opens with a ballsy, swaggering bass riff with angry guitar stabs filling the gaps. The vocals enter with all the bile and vitriol suggested by the songs title – Tori (the singer) has the rare ability to sound simultaneously raging and sweetly innocent, and imbues the song with 'uggins of personality.
'Laserbeam' begins with an almost childlike synth riff played over a Fall-like one chord vamp. In the wrong hands this could easily turn into a desperately ironic exercise in post-modern electronica, probably executed by laughably aloof, middle class students from Hampshire. However, Imoko Set never let faux intellect get in the way of a fucking good song, and, subsequently, 'Laserbeam' is definitely my favourite on the demo. The vocals here show that Tori can sing as well as vent spleen. Splendid.
'First of the Last' is more ethereal and ballad-esque, evoking modern bands like Arcade Fire and Flaming Lips. At this point it's clear that Imoko Set are a genuine band, rather than a few songs built around bleeps and whistles which, let's face it, is usually the case with electro pop ensembles.
'Night of a Thousand Girls' is my least favourite on the demo, and I think that's down to the lyrics; an account of the sights to be enjoyed on a typical Saturday night out coupled with the lounge singer delivery make for something rather sinister.
'New Drone' brings back the spite and venom of the first track, and it's a welcome return. It features some fucking good guitar playing from Jamie, too; thinking about it the guitar playing is shit hot from start to finish, and I really should have mentioned it earlier…
CD closer, 'Tender Heart', is an organ bolstered, more straight ahead indie track, and sounds, at times, a bit like Starsailor. The lead vox (whichever of the gents does them) have a fragility that works perfectly with the gently epic musical setting.
The electro leanings, outstanding female vocals and diverse material lend Imoko Set a far more unique and original collective sound than most guitar based combos currently doing the rounds. It's wrong for a truly objective journalist to have favourite local bands, but if it wasn't…
Review by Jeff Dreadnought
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Imoko Set / Blog
Soundbites Review!
Imoko Set: The Demos EP
Track one, 'I Only Loved You For Your Synthesizer', opens with a ballsy, swaggering bass riff with angry guitar stabs filling the gaps. The vocals enter with all the bile and vitriol suggested by the songs title – Tori (the singer) has the rare ability to sound simultaneously raging and sweetly innocent, and imbues the song with 'uggins of personality.
'Laserbeam' begins with an almost childlike synth riff played over a Fall-like one chord vamp. In the wrong hands this could easily turn into a desperately ironic exercise in post-modern electronica, probably executed by laughably aloof, middle class students from Hampshire. However, Imoko Set never let faux intellect get in the way of a fucking good song, and, subsequently, 'Laserbeam' is definitely my favourite on the demo. The vocals here show that Tori can sing as well as vent spleen. Splendid.
'First of the Last' is more ethereal and ballad-esque, evoking modern bands like Arcade Fire and Flaming Lips. At this point it's clear that Imoko Set are a genuine band, rather than a few songs built around bleeps and whistles which, let's face it, is usually the case with electro pop ensembles.
'Night of a Thousand Girls' is my least favourite on the demo, and I think that's down to the lyrics; an account of the sights to be enjoyed on a typical Saturday night out coupled with the lounge singer delivery make for something rather sinister.
'New Drone' brings back the spite and venom of the first track, and it's a welcome return. It features some fucking good guitar playing from Jamie, too; thinking about it the guitar playing is shit hot from start to finish, and I really should have mentioned it earlier…
CD closer, 'Tender Heart', is an organ bolstered, more straight ahead indie track, and sounds, at times, a bit like Starsailor. The lead vox (whichever of the gents does them) have a fragility that works perfectly with the gently epic musical setting.
The electro leanings, outstanding female vocals and diverse material lend Imoko Set a far more unique and original collective sound than most guitar based combos currently doing the rounds. It's wrong for a truly objective journalist to have favourite local bands, but if it wasn't…
Review by Jeff Dreadnought
Reply
Go Commando Review!
Imoko Set - The Demos
The hand sewn pouch holding the groovy little disc tray doesn't make me think demo. These are obviously not some 6th form, new rave, shandy drinking dreamers here, my friend. Imoko Set eh? Whats all this about? Limited edition 6 track E.P. it says here in some fancy font, but still I'm unsure. My appetite is whetted, the right zones have been stroked and I'm throwing the cd into the machine. All right Imoko Set, let's see what you're made of...
Agitated riffs like acid-byrnes and some big armed beast drums and we're already into the chorus...I think...I'm in a club being jostled and the dominatrix lead singer is singing/dictating and I like it. Her 'fucking band' are toiling away in perfect unison, odd little half riffs are thrown back and forth between guitar, bass and synth, the beat is relentless and sweaty and in the middle is this scary, beautiful woman telling me how it is. Yes, I will comply...And then the next song starts up all off-kilter sloppy until POP, it all falls into place with another devilishly simple beat and I'm again being harried and hustled on some dancefloor, spiky melodies twisting out of the speakers and the pulse of bass rocking me back and forth.
But there's something more here, lurking in the songs. It's not just mere ooomph and wallop. There are subtle brush strokes amongst the graffiti, touches of vocals and hints of intelligent musicians at work, building up here and stripping away where neccesary. Sometimes I'm being battered and slapped around a bit, the next minute everything's sweetened and relaxed and the harmonious voices are making me smile. Sometimes the notes are being slashed and pounded out, other times they're coaxed with style and heart giving the songs depth and dynamic. If I really were in a club, hearing Imoko Set, my head would be swiveling trying to keep up with who-did-that, where-did-that-come-from and what-the-hell-is-coming-now???
6 songs that encompass and express just about every positive and human emotion by the ingenious use of imagination and taste. There are so many voices on this cd, it's like a whole village turned up to record but it all sits well as a homogenous whole. I think it's like I just said about positive and human. Imoko Set are very positive and very human and I really love them for that.
GO COMMANDO MUSIC FANZINE
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