Kava Kava
Forwards
Midnight Swimming
6/10
Hmm…Kava Kava. Not quite sure what to make of this. For one thing, although they feature a full band this is a largely electronic release, so in terms of artists you might lump alongside them think Basement Jaxx, Daft Punk, Crystal Method and the like. However, there is something to keep in mind here. Namely: studio releases from electronic acts are often sub par and unlistenable. Music created for a dance floor doesn’t often translate well on a stereo, let alone an iPod or computer. I’ve just named three exceptions to the rule, but unfortunately for Kava Kava, they aren’t one. In fact, a more appropriate comparison might be to the lesser known Propellerheads, whose records have certainly rocked dance floors, but I find to be hit or miss. An act who relies so heavily on electronic elements has to be really, really good to find the kind of crossover appeal acts like Daft Punk have received, and most won’t ever see it.
All that being said, you can etch out a very respectable career and living within the electronic community if you are good at what you do, and Kava Kava isn’t bad. There are some standout moments on the album, the title track “Forwards” being one of them. It’s fairly grand in scale; a nice jam with a long outro that I quite enjoyed. “NFA” was another standout featuring a mellow guitar line textured with some minor turntable scratching. The songs draw on all kinds of influences, from funk to soul to jazz, and unlike the other artists I’ve mentioned, Kava Kava has a legitimate vocalist rather than relying on samples or guest appearances. As a result, many of the offerings here are definitely songs as opposed to tracks– a distinction worth noting. While this won’t be seeing regular rotation on my playlist, it has its place- a place where it will be played regularly. That place just doesn’t have a very large population.
But don’t take my word for it, find out for yourself. Midnight Swimming has made the second track, “Clarity,” into a ringtone available RIGHT HERE through Racket.
–Luke Toney