k-x-p: ii

Finland's finest are back with something truly epic. Where K-X-P's 2010 debut was an exercise in Kraut-tronica, K-X-P II finds the band unleashing their inner pop deviance. This is an album full of rock 'n' roll shamanism, glam-punk madness, grinding dance music, electronic Motörhead techno -- and a bit of Krautrock, too. K-X-P comprises frontman Timo Kaukolampi (electronics, vocals and the "K" in the band's name) plus Tuomo Puranen (bass, keyboards and the "P" in the band's name) and drummers Tomi Leppänen and Anssi Nykänen (the "X" -- for the mystery). While Tomi is a permanent feature of the band and the two drummer line-up is a studio-only affair -- it has been known to happen live on rare occasions. Born from the ashes of seminal Finnish groups Op:l Bastards and And The Lefthanded. This record was written in Berlin and completed in Helsinki. Timo travelled to the German capital in search of solitude. "In Berlin I was totally alone, a nobody in the shadows of this city. It offered new challenges for me to break through; a jungle of concrete and, the antithesis of myself: absolute hedonism," he says. The band recorded in converted cinemas and traditional studios, surrounding themselves with vintage equipment, analog electronics and -- for the first time -- analog step sequencers. Before K-X-P, Timo worked in the Xenomania pop factory, where he composed for -- among others -- Annie, who appears as a guest vocalist on K-X-P II. While The Misfits' early recordings, devotional chants, PiL and Bad Brains have been added to the band's list of musical influences, lyrical influence still comes from a dreaming place. 180gm/includes download

K-X-P - Melody