Following hot on the heels of their fine EP ‘Fever Dreams’ from last summer Gold Casio hit us with the next chapter in their world domination campaign, it is a six track EP entitled ‘Sinners’ on FreakOut Records and it is overflowing with class. Gold Casio are largely from Portland, Oregon although they have a Brooklyn contingent too. If you like sophisticated, soulful, electronic, dance and chill sounds then you will fall in love with this EP. Just when you think it is taking you back to the best 80s synth moments from the likes of the Human League the music rises up, grabs you by the throat to drag you back into the 21st Century.
Pic by Rob Woodcox
There are moments here when if you close your eyes you can picture this as a disco chill out album from the Scissor Sisters. The core membership of Gold Casio appears to be Ela Ra their sublime lead vocalist, Brock Vesuvius Cassian also a vocalist and skipper of synths, beats and keyboards, Julius Cassian (brother of Brock) provides vocals, more synths and keys along with guitar and bass and Saint Siris with even more vocals, more bass, more guitar and mucho more synths. They are aided and abetted by super drummers Benjamin Tyler and Connor Acott, ace percussionist Jeremiah Brunnhoelzl and finally Roberto Curtis who contributes electric wind instruments, saxophones and the flute. Their music is conceived written and produced by the band within a former church from the 19th Century.
“Street Magic” manages to stay funky in an electro disco anthem kind of way while wearing Steely Dan and Donna Summer influences with pride and passion. The vocal treatments and effects turn “Make You Mine” into something that is a sonic majestic masterpiece which evokes any number of dance acts that arose from the UK late 80s rave scene. The EP’s title track “Sinners” has Ela Ra putting on her finest Dolores O’Riordan vocals over a Kraftwerk-esque multilayered synth barrage. The most percussive track here is almost certainly “Dawn Awakening”, a song that will definitely make you move. “Lake Of Fire” has an incredibly sticky hook and is simply a gorgeous and delicious slice of superior pop music. Gold Casio play to the glitz and glamour of their sounds with a stunning visual look which takes Studio 54, Glam Rock, Sci Fi and the Rocky Horror show and makes something great out of it. I really, really want to see Gold Casio play live now.
With Just A Hint Of Mayhem 