Artist: Kotadama
Album: Dichotomy
Label: Unsigned
★★★★☆
Australian brothers mix retro pop with layered instrumentals producing a focused and uplifting record.
It's not easy making an album on your own, let alone bringing it to another country. With Kotadama's self released album "Dichotomy", they seem to have found what works. Having several songs already playing on the air and a growing fan base around the singles on "Dichotomy", there is no question that Kotadama has the formula to make people whistle their melodies all over town. Though there music can be easily compared to many other artists in the same pop rock genre, Kotadama holds its own among the best of them.
It is said that when you start composing music, nothing you do is original because it too closely resembles your influences. It is not until you have finished several works that your own sound begins to come out. The same may be true for Kotadama. Though the record is well mixed, the songs sound full and complete, and the whole album runs together smoothly, the one thing that may be missing is the sound they will be remembered for. The poppy synths and soaring backing vocals give their music a somewhat retro sound, and maybe a direction to head in with future projects. The great thing about this album is that it lays the groundwork to go in any creative direction. With this record, Kotadama set themselves up for a great career. My only worry is that another record similar to this one might typecast them as just another Jimmy Eat World sound alike. But in the end the solidity of the record prevails, and the bottom line is that "Dichotomy" is a well made record with enough satisfying melodies and up-beat sing-alongs to make for a good addition to anyone's iPod.
Album: Dichotomy
Label: Unsigned
★★★★☆
Australian brothers mix retro pop with layered instrumentals producing a focused and uplifting record.
It's not easy making an album on your own, let alone bringing it to another country. With Kotadama's self released album "Dichotomy", they seem to have found what works. Having several songs already playing on the air and a growing fan base around the singles on "Dichotomy", there is no question that Kotadama has the formula to make people whistle their melodies all over town. Though there music can be easily compared to many other artists in the same pop rock genre, Kotadama holds its own among the best of them.
It is said that when you start composing music, nothing you do is original because it too closely resembles your influences. It is not until you have finished several works that your own sound begins to come out. The same may be true for Kotadama. Though the record is well mixed, the songs sound full and complete, and the whole album runs together smoothly, the one thing that may be missing is the sound they will be remembered for. The poppy synths and soaring backing vocals give their music a somewhat retro sound, and maybe a direction to head in with future projects. The great thing about this album is that it lays the groundwork to go in any creative direction. With this record, Kotadama set themselves up for a great career. My only worry is that another record similar to this one might typecast them as just another Jimmy Eat World sound alike. But in the end the solidity of the record prevails, and the bottom line is that "Dichotomy" is a well made record with enough satisfying melodies and up-beat sing-alongs to make for a good addition to anyone's iPod.
