Casting a seductive web of sixties and garage punk, Kristy and the Kraks has a sound which sidles up to the imagination with lips pouted and provocatively swaying hips before adding a sonic glaze to the affair which permeates psyche and passions with equal tenacity. Hailing from Vienna, the band has just released their debut self-titled EP, a release consisting of four songs said to be inspired by Le Tigre and Julie Ruin. It is a raw and enchanting blaze of punk enterprise which croons and teases as its scores the senses in a presence which for us is best described as The Cramps and The Creeping Ivies meets The 5 6 7 8’s and The Crystals.
Kristy and the Kranks is the creation and union of Kate Kristal (Rabe, Dot Dash) and Ana Threat (The Happy Kids, Bretzel Krake Hoffer), the two coming together for the project in the spring of last year. Providing a temptation of two sets of vocals, a single guitar, and a basic stand-up drum set, the pair alternating instruments for certain songs, Kristy And The Kraks mesmerise with their sound. Like the best strains of garage punk the band makes a startling first impression, one which challenges and intrigues predominantly but it is not long before their lo-fi wiles and simple melodic toxicity become an irresistible and captivating temptress.
A resonance of drums opens up the EP as I Don’t Love You No More steps into view, the initial beckoning soon joined by sultry calls of 
guitar, both aspects gentle in their persuasion and gait at first. As the vocals come forward a more flaming voice emerges in the guitar strokes, their acidic tempting deliciously raw edged as they align with the smouldering harmonies which skirt the similarly heated vocal lead. The chorus brings a flush of urgency behind its melodic enticement which then switches to and fro with the previous more even tempered but fiery narrative. The song and sound is quite compelling, like a humid union of The Shangri-Las and The Fall and thoroughly absorbing.
The following Twentyone is forty two seconds of irresistible addictiveness. It is simply a hypnotic stride of beats inflamed by scuzz grilled guitar with intermittent vocal shouts striking across its bow. There is very little more to it but boy is it effective and inflammatory for the passions, riling and lighting them up for the next up No No No No No. The third song, which has also been the source of the band’s debut video, opens on a sensational throaty twang of guitar, its resourceful baiting of the imagination complemented by harmonic waves of vocals and a courting percussive coaxing. The song flirts with its moves and sounds, its swerves and tempting as raw and seductive as you could wish for. There is something primal about the song and the overall sound of the band, an instinctive lure which you cannot tear yourself or emotions away from, with this track arguably the most naturally bewitching of the four.
The just as masterfully magnetic Suicide completes the contagious incitement, the song veining its shadows with sirenesque harmonies entwined in rich guitar colour as well as a rhythmic punctuation. It all combines to provide a gripping drama with a healthy whisper of The Slits to its invention.
The EP is a magnificent debut, a release which increases its persuasion and beauty over each dive into its vibrant uncluttered depths. A release for garage punk, post punk, and lo-fi melodic punk fans, Kristy And The Kraks has announced themselves with one lingering fascination of a debut. Expect to hear and enjoy a lot more of this charismatic band.
The EP is available as a limited edition 7″ as well as a digital download via Totally Wired Records now!
http://totallywiredrecords.bandcamp.com/album/kristy-and-the-kraks
http://www.facebook.com/kristykraks
9/10
RingMaster 19/04/2014
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emotion drenched squalls of Percival wail in the back ground. As expected from the band on past experiences, it is a dramatic entrance but one which regroups into a restrained and melody kissed persuasion which still retains its raw edge but seduces rather than demands attention. It is a riveting enticement, the dark throat of the bass almost prowling the senses, though without menace, whilst guitars and rhythms keep imagination and appetite busy. Intensity and energy all the time are building their intent though, biding their time until the fiery chorus where everything is ablaze with passion and emotive colour. It is a thrilling encounter which finds a band never short on invention anyway, exploring and interlocking stronger varied textures and washes of sound than ever before. The song is thoroughly infectious and evocatively poetical, Percival’s vocals providing potent and at times emotionally desperate feeling hues to further light up the whole narrative.
sound and contagion. Emerging from the ashes of The Radicts, the band sees the reunion of Todd Radict and Rodger Shosa of The Bruisers, the pair having played together in punk band Five Balls of Power in the eighties. The band opens up their contribution to the release with a reworking of an old song of The Radicts. Led by the captivating vocals of Britney Noyes which have more than an essence of Poly Styrene meets Wendy Wu to them, Everybody’s Got A Reason takes a mere breath in time to draw a firmly attentive reaction with its opening thump of beats and classic rock flavoured guitar tempting. Keeping to a controlled stride with strikes of rhythms and guitar around catchy hooks, the song makes a tasty infectious appetiser for the band’s main course, the outstanding Ghetto Blaster. A brand new song from the band, it captures thoughts and emotions right away with its old school/modern punk bait, the track within seconds reminding of bands such as Penetration, 4 Nin Blondes, and Juliette And The Licks. Riffs and rhythms surge through the ears as devilishly as the vocals; every stride leaving a coating of anthemic toxicity which builds into a virulent seduction speared by sonic endeavour and melodically crafted hooks for the strongest bait. The song is punk rock at its purest insatiable best and takes tops honours amongst four quite magnificent beasts.
the opening track Hangman, the band unveils a superbly textured and provocatively spices weave of styles and flavours ranging from seventies heavy metal and psychedelic rock to stoner and doom as well as a stirring progressive encrusted spicery. As the first song proves it is a riveting and refreshing concoction which hits the sweet spot time and time again. Song one instantly has attention at its will with eagerly coaxing rhythms framing expressive and inventive guitar suggestiveness. It is a heavy and melodically infused invitation which losing a little of its grip when relaxing into a less surprising stride, though it soon regains its potency with the outstanding vocals of Gonzalez. His voice soars and roars simultaneously, complementing and driving the sounds around him whilst his guitar, as the rhythms of Garcia, tie up any lingering doubts with anthemic arms. As confirmed by all songs, there is never a moment to assume you know the destination of a track, a thrilling jazz/funk like salsa of Latin rhythmic temptation and melodic seduction tripping up expectations towards the middle of the first song before excellent guitar craft entwines ears and thoughts.
instant attention and appetite with its spicy electro resonance and guitar sculpted sonic lures from the very first second. It is a thick and consuming, senses frisking sound which sparks the imagination just as swiftly. Relaxing into a more temperate melody driven climate for the joining of the vocals from Dell, the song enchants before expelling further intensely passionate bursts of energy and guitar led rapaciousness with more than a sense of the Jesus and Mary Chain to it. It is an absorbing and unpredictable immersion with an open infectiousness which cannot be resisted by ears and passions.![7 Jacket (Glue Pocket - No Spine) [OB-GD17-001]](https://ringmasterreviewintroduces.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/reb1025front.jpg?w=549&h=553)
good at, exploring a situation and emotional shadow everyone has embraced or been shaded by. With shuffling beats and percussive coaxing plus delicious additional melodic hues provided by Carlos Adura and Carl Dimatage respectively helping colour the emerging small but rich drama, the song evolves into an understated yet fully magnetic and tonally busy proposition. It is a mesmeric wrap around senses and feelings easily enthusing ears and passions.
building recognition that the band knows how to craft and present narratives which grip and incite intimately as well as on a broader scale. The vocals of guitarist Danny Brooks bring a richly expressive and angst kissed presence to the song and lyrical presentation, a strong texture which seems to spark a greater hunger and urgency to the guitar designs of himself and Mark Hoynes whilst the rhythmic provocation of James Corby courted by the velvety tones of Olly Reed’s bass bring thick and equally compelling shadows to the invasively appealing colour of the track. It is a striking persuasion which d rides the senses with unreserved emotion whilst tantalising the imagination with continually evolving ideas and adventure. It is not a song which wholly steals the memory but rather offers small unforgettable treats which you hang onto and put together for a longer reflection. It is an unusual aspect but one which works very well.