HUBARDO

I thank the lord this record finally is over. I have always thought that music should be wonderful to listen to, something to get inspiration and joy from and brighten the minds of the listeners. Even "Kayo Dot" perhaps has that effect on some people but not on me.

Kayo Dot is a modern American rock band that has been living for ten years now and "Hubardo" is their sixth record. The music you can hear here would I describe as some form of post rock and metal, but such strange music that it has gained the classification RIO/avant-prog. I hear nothing though that reminds me of other RIO-music such as beautiful Samla Mammas Manna or The Cardiacs. I went to the music with joy and excitement but wander home sad and disappointed. Kayo Dot's music is complex and the band features seven all time musicians and four guests. Among the instruments that are played I can mention keyboards, organs, saxophones, guitar, flutes, trumpets and violin. With all those instruments I couldn't be more than curious and expectant. First I will mention all the good things I can find in this music.

The music is intelligent and complex. They also have a totally unique sound and is not fixed in a genre. The participation of some odd instruments is nice such as the trumpet in the last song and the organ in the third or the violin in the seventh. On the second half of "Hubardo" it becomes noticeable that the singer actually can sing. One song was almost a nice one: "And he built him a boat" with a nice melody and good singing.

But it's not a secret I don't enjoy this album. It was much too long, the half would have been enough. It was dark all the time, never bright or glory. The vocals were screamy and terrible, such as monsters from a world below. All compositions were sad and they didn't affect me at all. Where it wasn't growl or screams the music was too slow and annoying in an other way. I feel like this band took som interesting and nice ingredients and put it in a awful mess.

Now when It's clear I don't like this record I must clarify others have embraced them greatly and the complexity and progressivity of this music is certainly interesting for somebody. But not for me. I give it one solemn star.