Posted on 04/29/2008
It's obvious at this point that the whole indie-dance-pop scene has exploded with no end in sight. Gaudy synths and upbeat melodies mixed with vocals harkening back to the 1980s and late '70s are becoming "in" again. To stand out amongst the crowd, a band or artist must find a way to meander the line of parody and artistic integrity. One group, Casxio, is doing just that.

It's hard to take a synth-pop band like this seriously. Dance numbers aren't typically going to leave you questioning the finer points in life. They won't blow your mind either. But perhaps that is what makes Casxio so successful on this EP, aptly titled Four Songs By Casxio.

It's clear that these are fun-loving musicians who want to make you shake your ass and maybe even laugh a little. They do just that by throwing a quick little taste of Bell Biv DeVoe's "Poison" into the track "Counting Squares." Much of the four songs here are like a mix of Prince and the Police, musically and on the mic. The tracks, particularly "Seventeen" and "Boiling Point," are funky with hints of soul. And, in the end, you're left dancing right along.

The only weak link here is "My Book." It's simply too similar to the other tracks; hook, vocals, guitar and everything else. This one stumble in the otherwise solid EP shows the fragility of this sound. Groups like Casxio thrive on diversifying their style so their fans aren't left grooving along to the same chords over and over.

If these four tracks are any indication, this group is sure to catch the attention of bloggers all over the 'net. The reason: Casxio's appeal is undeniable. And their catchy, fun EP is guaranteed to leave you wanting more.

 

- Andrew Martin