KXP Get Spacey

What would have happened if Stereolab had actually taken the plunge, moved to Germany, listened to Krautrock all day long, and then wrote an album? I'm not sure myself, but my guess is KXP would have the answer as they've pretty much created it on their self-titled album for Smalltown Supersound. This power trio is actually not from Germay, but rather Finland and were forged out of other bands that Timo Kaukolampi (electronics, vocals) was in. Along with Tuomo Puranen (bass and keys) and rotating drummers Anssi Nykanen and Tomi Leppanen the band heads off into the never-ending void of jams that reek of psychedelia and the inability to stop.

KXP is a truly spacey album that seems like it should come with it's own light show, oil lamps, and incense burners. This is a tripped out, ongoing jam that's on a one way trip to the spiral bands of the galaxy and features some of the coolest drones, throbs, squiggles, and lengthy pieces of guitar work you are likely to hear. This is the sound of the Tardis ricocheting of the space time continuum and having one heck of a time doing it. KXP is the sound of a band taking a long tradition of progressive and kraut rock and adding some Finnish chill to it. Minimalistic at times and imaginatively maxed out at others, KXP keep things rolling along with a sense of repetition that becomes so hypnotic that you'll have to shake yourself out of the inevitable head bobbing this album encourages.

While KXP might not be the feel good hit of the summer it's probably the furthest out there record you are likely to find yourself listening to. KXP are a band that's so lost in space that they'll never make it home without the help of the aforementioned Tardis. That's ok though, their transmissions from the outer reaches of the galaxy are amazing and it would probably benefit us all if they didn't ever return to earth. Unendingly brilliant and musically epic, KXP is the sound of a band that's listened to alot of Spacemen 3 and Neu!, blended it with Stereolab, built a spaceship and left the confines of this planet. Something tells me that's just where they want to be.