Kitchie Kitchie Ki Me O – Are You Land Or Water

Kitchie Kitchie Ki Me O – Are You Land Or Water

House of Mythology – 2016

Rock

Rated: ***

Two years after the amazing fivestar self-titled debut by the Norwegian band Kitchie Kitchie Ki Me O, which harbored members of Madrugada, My Midnight Creeps and Ricochets, released in 2011, they promised us a follow-up album. But unfortunately, nothing happened. Even though they did release a single (Europa, which now closes the album) in 2014 we heard eerily nothing of KKKMO. But apparently their studio was demolished and the record label went bankrupt. And all those troubles and worries combined made frontman Alex Kloster-Jensen choose to rather head off into nature on his self-built bike then to have anything to do with the music business. (Which also sounds like an awesome drummer we all know…) He did this until Anders Moller (Ulver) pulled him back into the dark and damp rehearsal space once again. Just to jam, without any plans or obligations, and just to experience that lovely journey, from A to wherever you may end up, once again. Just like on his bike. And that is exactly how the new record Are You Land Or Water sounds. Quiet and subdued constantly progressing music with still some influences here and there of Mali- and voodoo blues, like a Dr. John we love. The journey is lovely, the landscape utterly beautiful and the vistas on occasion breathtaking. But even then it never becomes really thrilling or spectacular. For that, we unfortunately have to conclude, they are simply not hitting the peddle hard enough…

(Written by JK)

 

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Kitchie Kitchie Ki Me O – Kitchie Kitchie Ki Me O

Kitchie Kitchie Ki Me O – Kitchie Kitchie Ki Me O
EMI – 2011
Rock/Garage/Psychedelic
Waardering: *****

It has little to nothing to do with anything resembling stoner; but this has to be heard by each and everyone. So bare with me... And just maybe you too will be awed... When the best Norwegian band of all time had to call it quits the remaining members both went their separate ways. Guitarist Robert Buras left this world sadly much too soon and left his friends from Madrugada to fend for their own. His own project My Midnight Creeps also had to stop. So singer Sivert Hoyem from Madrugada went solo and took with him multi-instrumentalist-magician and substitute during the Madrugada farewell tour Cato Salsa Thomassen with him. Bassplayer Frode Jacobsen took guitarist Alex Kloster Jensen who played with Ricochets and also during the final Madrugada tour with him to start a new band. That band is what has become Kitchie Kitchie Ki Me O. It also features saxophone player Dag Stiberg who played with My Midnight Creeps and drummer Behzad Farazollahi who played with all bands already named at one point in time. After a few messy and dubious shows in back alley bars they released a first tour EP. This already announced what direction the band would be taking. Their self-titled full sized album has become a true ode to the sound of My Midnight Creeps and especially the direction Buras wanted to take his band. Hence the name Kitchie; which also had special meaning to the magical guitarman. So let’s quickly now get the one lesser point of the album out of the way; Alex takes on the vocal parts and does not always have a masterful approach; but somehow it luckily and often suits the complex musical events well. But that’s the only little speck of dust on the record. It is dark, brooding and sinister. It is grinding soul and hypnotic jams forged together with hot intense blues. It’s floating on ominous rhythms and being abducted by a whirlwind of pure ecstasy. There is no escape; judgment day cometh and Kitchie will be the soundtrack!

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