Kiss Kiss Releases Second Full Length Album

By in Entertainment,

Kiss Kiss, an experimental quintet from New York, released their second full-length album on July 7. The ensemble began with drummer Jared Kearns and guitarist/vocalist Joshua Benash (who also does a good deal of synthesizer work) while the two attended State University of New York at Purchase. The band's current line-up includes guitars, drums, bass, vocals, synthesizers and electric violin. At this point in the career of Kiss Kiss, the quintet boasts fewer members than it has gone through since its inception. With this ever-changing array of musicians, the band has released "The Meek Shall Inherit What's Left" on the independent New Jersey label Eyeball Records.

The record begins with hauntingly-distorted strains of the violin. The dark, orchestral sound that the ensemble has adopted creates a beautifully-deranged environment for the newest release. The first track, "The Best Mistake," drags the listener into the album with a chilling, powerful grip.

"Plague #11" showcases the band's talent for switching musical moods on a dime. The song begins with a heavily-synthesized, disjointed music box sound. In an instant, it is brought into a heavy, almost somber state before rushing back into the manic beats of the opening line.

After a musically-atmospheric interlude called "Haunted By the Beauty of An Imperfection," the record progresses into "All They Draw." The track opens with a jumpy, pulsating beat which gives way to a swaying, swooning melody before morphing into a piano ballad. With the bridge of "All They Draw," the listener is thrown into a demented circus vibe, full of spastic syncopations and fiery synthesizers. Drastic musical changes occurring within seconds of one another is one of the things about Kiss Kiss that truly keeps their listeners on their feet.

With a few musical duels between a distorted keyboard sound and a spirited, drum-heavy vibe, "Innocent I" kicks into a full-fledged, avant-garde riot, with Benash unleashing long runs of pattering, incomprehensible lyrics. This enthralling anthem leads into "Innocent II." This tune begins with impassioned chords and bended, warbled strains of the violin. Thick, reeling vocals moan lurid lyrics beneath multiple harmonies.

"IIIIIIIIIII" plays strongly upon Kiss Kiss' flair for experimental synthesizers. The song swims with the murky musical texture of early Radiohead.

With a marching tempo, "Hate" strikes the listener like a sexy, psycho carnival. Silky string lines and pulsating bass keeps the tune pumping into a domineering bridge.

The bridge takes elements of music boxes, radio static and solo violin to craft a stunning composition.

Swooning, aching melodies drive "Through the Day." The touching string lines create a powerful orchestral frame for the pounding beats. As Benash bellows the aching title line, one cannot help but feel the rush of emotions issuing from his pained voice.

The song makes a seamless transition into "If They Only Knew," a slow, but energized, ballad. The thumping drums create an interesting contrast to the bittersweet violin line. The sensual beats that drive the song melt into a sea of white noise to end the song.

The album ends with "Virus," 15 minutes of impassioned aggression. The song begins with the eerie sound of a bowed saw accompanied by a bare-bones guitar line and swells of the violin. Benash acknowledges the musical atmosphere, humming, "Speak iron runt. Nobody squeals like I do." Soon, the song breaks into heavier chords and pulsing bass, while Benash breathily speaks of "the romance of death." As the song progresses, it becomes an alluring masterpiece of pleading lyrics and spinning musical ambience. By the end of the song, the musical structure begins to fall to pieces. The piece begins running backwards amidst the tender strains of violin.

To truly grasp the myriad of elusive intricacies of this album, one really must take a listen for themselves. "The Meek Shall Inherit What's Left" is now available in stores and through iTunes. Check out Kiss Kiss' MySpace at www.myspace.com/kisskiss to sample some of the alluring songs on this new release.

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