About Hot Sushi

Posts by Mike Budd:

Cazals vs. Lifelike

A word of advice to any future band bio writers: try to avoid using the phrase forward thinking British guitar bands more than once in any given piece. In fact, when writing about a band that has yet to release a full-length album, the phrase should probably not be uttered until it can be proven by some observable means that said band, by virtue of their release, have altered how other British based guitar bands have gone about recording their albums. I am speaking about the bio that appears on the Facebook page of British based guitar band Cazals, which I encountered in doing some research for what was supposed to be a quick post about one of their songs. After making a case for why Cazals is on the vanguard of guitar based bands, the bio goes on to remark how their inclusion in the Kitsune roster of electronic acts should be viewed as significant due to their retrogressive tendencies (read: non futuristic approach to music making). Im confused.

Anyway, bios do not make a band, though remixes certainly can. Somebody Somewhere, Cazals recent single, tells the tale of a hopeless romantic with a dirty mind. Lyrically creative, and infused with a melancholic optimism that there is someone out there for everyone, I first heard this track in one of its remixed forms by House producer Lifelike. Probably because of my own biases towards electronic music, I prefer the remix to the original. I think the lush analog synth accompaniment blends perfectly with the strong, standout vocals, and helps enhance the message that you can be a hopeless and hopeful romantic. Compare for yourselves.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK9tdisaJA8]

Sincerely

Hot Sushi

Black Kids

Another crossover track/remix to consume! Black Kids come to us from Jacksonville FL, combining the teenagnst of pre-mo 80’s synth pop, with the dance party in the living room style of the B 52’s. They are one of those bands that manage to garner tons of buzz without having a full length album yet released (due out July 2008 btw), and have used their 2008 singles “Hurricane Jane”, and “I’m Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You” with great effect in getting the world set for their full length debut. Opening for Cut Copy probably helped boost this band’s profile with dancefloor centric fans too.

Down to business now. “I’m Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You” is a tongue-in-cheek story about a modern love triangle, in which our protagonist is on the outside looking in. Adding to the pain of unrequited love is the indignity of being asked by the object of affection to teach her boyfriend to dance. While the relationship seems to be solid, clearly she has identified areas for improvement in her man. Enlisting the help of her more artistic, fleetfooted, and music savvy platonic man-friend makes perfect sense to help mould her boyfriend into a more presentable hipster.

Unbenknownst (or maybe benknownst) to her, the would-be dance instructor secretly wants to tango with her, and knows that if he imparts his moves on the boyfriend, that any hope of her realizing who the real douche is would die like the Lambada and Macarena.

Who hasn’t been in a situation similar to this before? What I would do is offer to teach him some of my moves, and focus exclusively on ska shuffles and hardcore. Check out some of my satisfied pupils!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oK0mGLtlAE]

Anyway, this is the Twelves Remix.

Sincerely,

Hot Sushi

A.Human

For my first post for the Indie Music Filter, it is only fitting that I bring to your esteemed attention a band just getting out of the gates, with an interesting debut of their own. A.Human, a trio from London, bring a fresh dose of psychedelic melodies to grungy electro beats, resulting in a very balanced crossover sound. They also have one of the most amusing bios I have read in a while, making reference to their shared disdain for serving food and drink to suited no brains as a motivator for making music together. (At least they found an original way to describe what seems a clich袠starting point for most rock outfits, waiting tables.)

It is not surprising Third Hand Prophecy is being put out by the folks at Wall Of Sound, a label packed with dance producers with an indie-rock edge. Fast becoming one of my favourite labels for spinable tracks due to their consistent release of epic electro that keeps the distortion and dirt in the low end as much as possible, A. Human caught my attention right away with their lead single Black Moon. Aggressive, cryptic lyrics take us into lives of two individuals bent on capturing fame and fortune. Check out the awesome reference to Jean-Claude Van Damme near the end of the song. Very Chuck Norris-esque.

Sincerely,

Hot Sushi

Video for Black Moon
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adA1FgojpD4]

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