From the same restlessly imaginative brains behind Adderall Canyonly, comes another effervescent long-form electronic salvo from Oxykitten
Putting aside the many grim aspects of the current pandemic crisis, it’s hard not to think that some artists who bob in and out of the Concrete Islands orbit are at least well-equipped to keep crafting away in isolation. We can certainly expect, in whatever becomes of the near-future, a few box-sets worth of material being benevolently stockpiled for eventual delivery to the outside world from lone home-studio creators affiliated to Castles in Space, Ghost Box, Bibliotapes, Polytechnic Youth et al. Inevitably though, this might lead to a slight surplus in supplies of introspective, hauntological and dystopic wares. Hence, some more gregarious, playful and uplifting sounds are indubitably also needed from the same prolific crowd, to balance-out the darker moodscapes that will sonically-mirror what we are living through and what is to come after. Enter then Oxykitten…
An alias with an inner-alias, Oxykitten is the progeny of the punning self-christened Justin Case, whose real name is Wayne Longer, somewhat better-known for his equally hyper-prolific Adderall Canyonly alter-ego. Whereas the latter project finds the Toronto-based boffin trading in impressively murky kosmische and post-industrial idioms, Oxykitten is a far more colourful, bright and energetic operation. From the album-title and sleeve artwork inwards, the peculiarly-anointed Attack of the Koala People – the first ever Oyxkitten vinyl outing after years of cassette/download-only releases – is a dizzying ebullient affair.
Built around squelchy as well as soaring synths and discombobulating drum machines, Attack of the Koala People feels like an exercise in re-gorging on some of your favourite if niche early-childhood sonic memories. Hence, it’s densely-stuffed with imaginary 80s computer game scores (“Sex Allowance Syndicate” and “Hamster Wheelin’”); euphoric neon-lit Kraftwerk space-pop tonalities (the title-track and “Bobby Pin Blues”) and nods to vintage kids sci-fi/fantasy TV soundtracks (“Titanium Pachyderm” and “Toad Prince”).
Although its tempos are a touch relentless and its relative vividness can be a tad gaudy, Attack of the Koala People is a welcome dayglo distraction in the current situation and a refreshing range-extender to the Polytechnic Youth label to boot.
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