Kassin +2
Futurisimo
Luaka Bop
9/10
I hear the album name Futurisimo and I see Luaka Bop, one of them there labels that has a niche and sticks to it, I think of some weird South American House music. But nope, Luaka Bop sticks to the idea of having solid tunes, and Kassin +2 (Some producer/songwriter named Kassin and a couple of other dudes) created an album that brought together several of my housemates, each with different musical tastes. Three of us were making our house presentable for a “fancy” dinner for a friend’s engagement when I tossed Futurisimo on. Within ten minutes, you had Patrick, with his Tool shirt and dickies, Micah, complete with sweater vest, and your illustrious Emperor rocking a Ramones shirt, all dancing in the kitchen. Now, I do say “dancing” lightly, as we are al horribly and irreversibly white. Bossa Nova tunes, in what I assume is Portuguese, kept us dancing our way to cleanliness. Three post-college dudes, from three completely different musical backgrounds, all united by the jazzy deliciousness of Kassin+2? Must be something special.
-Jonathan Yost