New wave is back, and like most of the newcomers of the current
\nage, Division Kent sounds as if it’s been taking music lessons from
\nthe eighties New Wave era.<\/p>\n
Hailing from Zurich, Division Kent comprises keyboardist Sky
\nAntinori and singer Andrea B. The duo try hard to steer away from
\nthe ’80s new wave sound, and while the infectious and antiquated
\ndance beats of that era are present, the music is very European,
\nleaning heavily towards the music of female-led electronica bands
\nof the nineties.<\/p>\n
Cuts like “Monsterproof,” “All You Fantasized,” “Tango 2000” and
\n“Sweet & Vicious” are soggy with rich layers of synth and
\nstrong bass textures, all in the trademark 80’s flair. Andrea’s
\ndispassionate downbeat vocals on these highly charged upbeat tunes
\nprovide a conflict of vibes that gives the band a kind of creepy
\nbut attractive weirdness, not present in most new wave-aping acts
\nof today – the ones that try to sound like they came from the
\n’80s.<\/p>\n
The more dark and psychedelic influences of ’90s electronica
\ncome about on “Frantic,” “Chemical Moon Baby,” and especially on
\nthe moody “Brooklyn Dub,” where the lesser uptempo swing in the
\nmusic flows fully in harmony with Andrea’s vocals. However, these
\nnumbers have a pretty sedated temper and a generously synth-soaked
\nsound, and except for their sheer glumness and an accented female
\nsinging them, they don’t meet much of the criteria for the black
\nbut contagiously foot-tapping music of ‘9’s electronica.<\/p>\n
Division Kent is just another face in the crowd of the new wave
\nof New Wave acts (sorry, it was too tempting to pass up).
\nNonetheless, the group’s music has an appeal to folks who have an
\near for this sort of music, even if it’s not the best the genre has
\nto offer today.<\/p>\n
Also worth noting is that the band was named for where they
\nrecorded this album, on the corner of Division Street and Kent
\nAvenue in New York City.<\/p>\n