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Kaj is a California-based trio of the Haddad brothers, signed to A Different Drum.  Someone walking into my apartment when I was listening to Kaj said “Hey, is that a Depeche Mode bootleg?”  Songs of Faith & Devotion-era Depeche Mode is the first comparison that comes to mind for me.  This is a relationship that works for me, because I always DID wish there had been more Songs of Faith & Devotion-era Depeche Mode songs. Kaj produces melodic synthpop with a dark edge and extraordinarily smooth vocals.

Lead vocals and lyrics are provided by Saif Haddad, with Sahm Haddad providing keyboards and vocals, and music, production, vocals, and lyrics by Kais Haddad. A friend and I once compared David Gahan’s (of Depeche Mode) vocals to Bailey’s Irish Cream, because they go down so smooth. Well Saif Haddad’s vocals are like that, too, only not so deep.  Still though, its extremely pleasant to listen to. 

 

“Follow Me”, one of the first singles off this album, is a sensual synthpop love anthem.  With lyrics like “Holding onto what I can feel/Tasting only sweetest joy/Gripping onto what seems real/Letting go when pain’s revealed”, Kaj reveals that they have real lyrical talent along with a strong basis in New Wave synth aesthetics. They appear to be excellent remixers, also, having contributed a wonderful remix of Wave-In-Head’s “Progress” to the Progress ep (the synthpop world being so incestuously entangled).

 

My favorite tracks are the aforementioned “Follow Me” (very sexy), “Picture on the Wall”, “Regret”, and the pretty instrumental “All Is Love”, even if it DOES sound alternately  a little like it belongs on a Wyndham Hill compilation (many synth acts are guilty of that little crime, so never mind it) or like the (you guessed it) Depeche Mode B-side instrumentals “Sibeling” and “Mephisto”. I like Kaj. I like them decidedly. I like their excellent programming, rolling electronics, deep beats at times, and ice-cream-on-a-hot-day-vocals (good enough to eat, and melting). There is one thing, however, that I wish they had done differently:  the beginning tracks have the hints of samples of middle-eastern instruments, and a bit of an exotic feel.  Halfway through the songs lose this, but I liked it, and wish there were more of it.  The album is cohesive and flowing.  There are a few songs that mix up the fast-and-slow beats, but in general, this album is a late-night down-tempo groove-synth thing.  Does that make sense? Listen to it to find out.

Rating: Groovy-smooth synthpop for the masses

Stars:

Recommended if you like: Depeche Mode, the Human League, Simple Minds, Tears for Fears

Track Listing:

1. Picture on the Wall
2. Follow Me
3. Regret
4. Winds of Shame
5. Take Me Away
6. All is Love
7. Under the Moon
8. The Rise and the Fall
9. Sins of the Flesh
10. Fate Can't Be Seen
11. Free Your Mind

Website:
www.kajrecords.com
www.adifferentdrum.com

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