Sixteens--Casio
Cochon 2004
The synthesized sounds of new wave sure seem to be making a comeback, these days. That isn't a bad thing at all. However, many of the bands running that course feel like they're unable to grasp all the things which made the best of that genre work so well. Only the elite of this new breed are able to hold onto those necessary roots while forging something fresh and unique. You can put the Sixteens and their album Casio near the top of that special class.
The Sixteens sound lies somewhere between the chaotic and dark synth punk pulse of the Screamers and the spacey gothic weirdness of Alien Sex Fiend. Musically, Casio is extremely hypnotic--the beats stay pretty rigid, not a fill in sight, which when combined with the loopy, repetitive song construction, as well as the monotone vocal delivery, help in sustaining that disorienting vibe. There are a truckload of bands riding the underground new wave revival trying to glean some of that bleak Pleasure Principle-esque gold, but make no mistake about it--no one else delivers synthetic paranoia and alienation the way the Sixteens do. Casio is a true modern classic of the form.
Over its eight flawless tracks, Casio drones its way into your consciousness for eternity. On "Community People" and "Working For You," the Sixteens are at their most goth, those aforementioned Alien Sex Fiend leanings at a premium. "First Place" comes off like a Thirwell/Foetus soundtrack to one of Richard Kern's flicks, the delivery of the female voice recalling Hawkwind's "Ten Seconds Of Forever" a tad. Still, the best cut of the album turns out to be "Cancellation Projects." Besides also being Casio's most danceable track, this tune most approaches those much coveted and previously mentioned Numan-isms, while managing to sneak in an utterly fractured and bizarre verse featuring the male vox. All told, the Sixteens manage to clock in at just over fifty-one and a half minutes without a single moment of letdown.
For all the above reasons, and many more, Casio is a must hear. The Sixteens do a masterful job of subtly mixing mellower tones in underneath their superb black wave. The results are always unsettling and a joy to consume. Don't delay--the sooner you pick this up, the sooner you get to geek out on it. Remarkable stuff.
Score this CD directly from COCHON |
