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Kitsch: The Burning Ground

I interviewed Kitsch for their 'Love Songs for Romantic Punks'‚ release in 2002 and liked them but didn't take to the music. It seemed too American, too adolescent. The new record still sounds American and is perhaps more mature. There's greater texture with additional instrumentation (strings, mellotron and organ) and a new member in Evan 'Concord Dawn' Short on bass and production duties - previously from hardcore outfit Day One. There are some cool riffs and fine playing to be found, everything is solid and sure, which you would expect after more than a decade of doing it. Now that Sommerset has folded Kitsch must be Auckland's longest-serving punk-pop stalwarts. Undoubtedly these songs would kick in a live setting. Andrew Buckton recorded the instruments at Studio 203 and ensures there is a good Sound Pressure Level emanating from the speakers. The bass grinds down low, the guitars whip like a hailstorm and the drums have a pleasing weight and thump. Beautiful guitar ditty Funereal hints at a wider emotional pallette Kitsch could employ, and there's an acoustic guitar driven lament hidden after the closing title track. If you like taut and muscular modern rock, look no further.

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