DAI KAHT

DAI KAHT are a young 4 piece band out of Finland who have blessed us with their take on Zeuhl. The bassist/singer discovered Zeuhl through RUINS and later MAGMA. I must say that any new Zeuhl or Krautrock band that comes along is an automatic purchase for me. I'm just really into these sub-genres and it's always interesting to see where new bands take those particular styles of music. These Finns have two guitarists, a drummer and a bassist/ vocalist. So it's disappointing not to see electric piano or not having the bass fuzzed out and in my face. They seemed to focus on the vocals as far as the Zeuhl style goes and for me they are hit and miss. In fact after the first 5 songs I'm not even thinking it's worth the three stars but then track 6 and 7 really impress before the closer which is more like the rest in my opinion.

"Karaouh" opens with some deep atmosphere before the guitar, bass and cymbals take over rather quickly. A zeuhlish rhythm kicks in before 1 1/2 minutes with drums but it's light. When the vocals arrive it's catchy but just too light and I'm not exactly sold here. It becomes more uptempo before the guitar leads the way before 4 minutes as the vocals step aside. "Waku" sounds good with that pleasant guitar with bass and drums. Vocals just before a minute. Kind of a relaxed and poppy tune at least for Zeuhl.

"Helvet Sttroi" opens with atmosphere as the bass and drums kick in and yes this sounds really good. The guitar starts to make some noise then it turns powerful after a minute. Suddenly vocals and a beat take over. It's okay. Guitar to the fore around 2 minutes as the vocals stop. This is better. "Gnyynlaggor" opens with the guitar and drums trading off before we get this steady sound with vocals. I just can't get into this. The vocals are brief but they return before 2 1/2 minutes. Please tell me you don't like this section? Some Vander-like vocal expressions follow that are right on. That uptempo section is back 3 1/2 minutes in, vocals too. Not my scene.

"Addurrenn" starts out with some atmospheric guitar along with bass. It picks up with vocal melodies and a beat around a minute. It's building still until that zeuhlish chanting kicks in around 1 1/2 minutes. It's instrumental again with guitar leading until it settles with vocals before 3 minutes.

"Kadett Mozami" is my favourite. The guitar growls away as we get some relaxed drumming but then it kicks in with vocals at a high speed just before a minute. The tempo keeps changing as themes are repeated. I like when it settles down 3 1/2 minutes in then the vocals return singing slowly. This is so good with those deeper vocals before 4 1/2 minutes. There's some dark atmosphere later that I really like.

"Advent" is another one I quite like. It has this catchy guitar led start with drums and bass. The vocals arrive after 3 minutes sounding distant but they are brief. He's speaking the lyrics before 5 minutes as the trippy sound continues. The guitar comes in awkwardly after 5 1/2 minutes.

"Doover Uouh" opens with light vocals and sound. It kicks in before a minute. Some interesting rough zeuhlish vocals before 2 1/2 minutes. Man this is all over the place, a nod to Japanese Zeuhl I presume. I like the guitar after 4 1/2 minutes. The band yells around 7 minutes as we get a dramatic ending.

I know this album is going to get a lot of rave reviews, this is more about my personal taste for sure. I knew from the first spin that this wasn't for me and many plays later it was confirmed. Check it out!