There can be no surprise to learn of another act inspired by a love of Kraftwerk and New Order. What is rather different about gladKazuka, however, is that the man behind the mask is from Colombia; a country not normally associated with "retro-tronica". The 'Panameņa' EP is unlikely to revolutionise synth music. On the title track, vocals appear to be on loan from Steve Strange and the bass guitar owes a large debt to Peter Hook. 'Solo Me Gusta Contigo' is icy and calculated in the manner of early Factory act Section 25 whilst 'Take Me' picks up from where the Junior Boys left off but with female vocal samples replacing the more soulful tones. Most impressive is the final offering 'Dobian'; sounding like a version of Kraftwerk's 'The Model' but with its melody distorted into something uglier and dirtier yet extremely compelling. Essentially this EP is a pastiche but it's executed in a way that makes imitation forgivable.
There can be no surprise to learn of another act inspired by a love of Kraftwerk and New Order. What is rather different about gladKazuka, however, is that the man behind the mask is from Colombia; a country not normally associated with "retro-tronica". The 'Panameņa' EP is unlikely to revolutionise synth music. On the title track, vocals appear to be on loan from Steve Strange and the bass guitar owes a large debt to Peter Hook. 'Solo Me Gusta Contigo' is icy and calculated in the manner of early Factory act Section 25 whilst 'Take Me' picks up from where the Junior Boys left off but with female vocal samples replacing the more soulful tones. Most impressive is the final offering 'Dobian'; sounding like a version of Kraftwerk's 'The Model' but with its melody distorted into something uglier and dirtier yet extremely compelling. Essentially this EP is a pastiche but it's executed in a way that makes imitation forgivable.
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