Kino Kimino- Bait is for Sissies (2016)

Kino Kimino- Bait is for Sissies (2016)

By: Ghost Writer

It was obvious that the ex-members of the now defunct Sonic Youth will sooner or later (sooner of course) reappear on other projects, Moore and Gordon quickly returned with projects of their own or collaborations, in the case of guitarist Lee Ranaldo, just like Moore, simply continued with his solo career which has spawned several solo records, so it came a bit as a surprise to me that Ranaldo turned back to group form along with former band mate drummer Steve Shelley on the newly formed Kino Kimino, along with two other musicians, the results are nothing less than spectacular, as you get the chance to listen again to Ranaldo fabulous out of this world guitars and Shelley peculiar drumming inspired on the kosmische motorik fixed rhythms.

First song, Passion, features Ranaldo zooming guitars along substantial drumming by Shelley and the more dynamic and frenzied vocals of Kim Talon, who wastes no time to perfectly sum along with the intense rock bottom set by Shelley and bassist Melinda Holm, one could imagine the combination of veterans and rookies here, being a complex one, but after a few seconds within the song it becomes irrelevant, as Talon assumes immediately the leadership, going into the swinging rocker of Pale Calico, as a less strident, more in control Kathleen Hanna, going perfectly well with Ranaldo chiming guitars and Shelley red hot toms, whose great moment on the record comes in the drumming intensity of next song Blood Bath.

Rosy Rudiger has lovely guitars to start along with potent drumming, it may recall Sonic Youth to some listeners as the guitar dynamics scratch the expansive sound of that band, this time with Talon pop sensibilities taking Ranaldo and Shelley into really interesting places, and then going into really primitive minimalism in Loincloth with the band getting really intense here, losing a little bit the control and descending into vibrant chaos, but they quickly return to tight sounds on Caste Out, whose ending again takes the band down, down into almost hellish territory.

Chalk Like brings out guitar texture into Sonic Youth like guitars lot in a splendid mix with Talon voice making an unstoppable team with Ranaldo Branca-sonic guitars and Shelley's motorik drums, sounding great weekend in a territory these seasoned veterans know too well, this in part is an interesting factor in the immediately enjoyable nature of this recording, as Ranaldo manages to set his trademark very well-known guitars into a partially different context, adding a jagged edge to the pop nature of the band.

Bait is for Sissies is an exciting new record from a band that unexpectedly seems driven to regain the SY mantle without the arty ambitions of the past, as they effortlessly bring back those buzzing guitars and highly dynamic free form drums, as Ranaldo and Shelley apply again there proven formulas while Kim Talon howls gracefully above the sonic attack, this is not the Sonic Youth of Confusion is Sex, Sister or Bad Moon Rising, but they sound most apt than most newcomers at catching up the classic sound of the legendary band late days, add to that Talon's charisma who manages to give some accessibility to the band furious sonic landscapes, and you have a truly engaging package just about to explode in your face.