Kasms – Spayed (2009) [Trouble] // Grade: B

I’ve been looking forward to Kasms’ debut full length ever since I first wrote this post. For lack of a better term, Kasms are Post-Punk revivalists and Spayed is a rich journey through decades of Post-Punk by a bunch of kids who really know their record collections inside and out (or at least seem like they do). Being a female fronted band Spayed in now way can escape the obvious nods to Siouxsie, Delta 5 & Xmal Deutschland; But it does so without ever limiting itself to simply rehashing 70/80s era UK Goth and Post-Punk. Astute listeners will catch the fingerprint of bands like Bikini Kill and Antioch Arrow all-over this debut as well though.

The thing that separates good bands from mediocre ones is knowing how to let your influences show without using them as a crutch. Their ability to acknowledge that their work is revivalist by nature, yet not confine it solely to being just that is what keeps Spayed from collapsing under the weight of it’s own encyclopedia like familiarity with it’s influences. The struggle against influence vs. creative intentions creates a riotous, tense and captivating listen across Spayed’s half-hour length. This isn’t a perfect album by any stretch, but it is fun, raw, energetic and just a little too pretentious for it’s own good… but all and all, that still spells a pretty auspicious debut in my book. Plus you gotta love that Roxy Music looking cover!

Right now Kasms is all but unknown in the U.S., but a supporting spot on Gossip’s new tour will probably change all of that. However In the UK they’ve been written about to a ridiculous degree. Praised & scorned, they’re the sort of band who’s backlash probably set in before they ever recorded this album. But we’re oblivious to all of that here in the U.S. and can enjoy Spayed solely on the merits of it’s music. If you were either enamored or disappointed by The Horrors follow-up, you really should get familiar with Kasms as you’ll quickly find much to like if not perhaps love.

- My Pal the Crook