KYOKO
1999 - 2001
John Austin (Guitar / Bass / Keyboards / Vocals Etc)
Andrew Jarrett (Vocals / Guitars / Keyboards Etc)
Tom Adams (Drums / Percussion)
With, On Occasion:
Paula Knight (Violin / Backing Vocals / Keyboards)
Jon Kent (Bass)
When Beatnik Filmstars stopped playing in 1998 (They re-started in 2005) Kyoko was formed.
A slow-fi, quiet core band, who liked to record in a lo-fi manner and be experimental, but using
tunes and melodies, rather than just being weird for the sake of it.
They played so quiet, often the audience would actually be unaware the band had started playing!
Naturally, this caused problems and live shows were difficult. However, some of the shows where
the audience actually bothered to shut the chatter and listen to the music, were quite brilliant.
(Leeds and the 555 Records night in Bristol spring to mind).
The NME said : 'Reminiscent of Low, Depressive countrified tangles, anchoring beat loops'
It was the kind of music that you really had to listen to, lay back, relax expect nothing and receive
everything in return, a massive and quite deliberate step away from what The Beatniks had been
doing of late. Lyrically, still biting, still funny, if you own a dry sense of humour, and still honest
and personal.
Many labels and journalists showed an interest in the band, but as so often, the label interest
didn't really come through, (no surprise there then!) and journalists struggled to get the editors
of certain publications to publish reviews. After their quite excellent 'Unpure Disco' album was
released on the London based 'Pet Sounds' record label, it disappeared without trace.
Disillusioned the band called it a day.
DISCOGRAPHY:
7 INCH
17 STITCHES (Mobstar)
17 stitches / lay on your back / postcards
CD ALBUM:
ONE : MINI (Mobstar)
yellow / 1.1.53 / magic hands / trip a number up / stars /
facing up reality / h. bond / treat you better.
CO-INCIDENTAL MUSIC (555 Recordings)
track one / boats /reality dawns on a second rate sitcom actor /
he despenses with timid afterthoughts / milk is harmless / a mile
to save your neck /p.e.t.s / yellow (granger's lonespaceranger mix) /
better days! coming now! / track ten / ex-filmstar.
UNPURE DISCO (Pet sounds)
Southville to the sun / the stars are full of lies / queens (an unusual
burst of optimism) /drunk /fireman /keep it to yourself /slow handshake /
boy cowboy /break every bone / saturday night outfit / melt.
Kyoko appeared on several compilations, most notably:
SOFT LOVE (TRIBUTE TO SOFT CELL) / Torch (555 Recordings)
YOU GOTTA GET MORE ALIVE / t.a.m.s (555 Recordings)
HOPPING ON THE WEST COST / Protection (Mobstar)
VIVA MOBSTAR! / A Perfect Life (A Perfect Lie) (Mobstar)
RECOMENDED TRACK LISTENING:
Southville To The Sun
Magic Hands
Protection
A Perfect Life (A Perfect Lie)
Reality Dawns On A Second Rate Sitcom Actor
Fireman
Boats
Trip A Number Up
Drunk
The Stars Are Full Of Lies
" I want to escape all the slow and secret handshakes...
but I keep on...
Feeling,
Thinking,
Evil"