My NMEs (and Mikrofisch)

I’m not a big fan of the pigeonholing or labelling that circles the world of pop music but I have been known to follow a popular, labelled-to-death genre or two. Although, while “Shoe-gazing” was tightly defined by fuzzy guitars and the literal gazing at shoes (as opposed to looking out at the audience) and “Twee” has its gentle harmonies and thinking-person’s persona, labels such as “Britpop” and “80’s music” inherently mean nothing.

The marketing of the music “industry”, led in the UK by past-their-prime rags like the NME, creates sub-groups and over-promotes bands (and subsequently dumps them) for the sole purpose of shifting units. Thankfully, this master-plot is coming undone through “the wonders of the digital age”! And... straight from that digital realm come minnows Mikrofisch, an electronic, low-fi duo with Germanic roots that so happen to sport a few desirable songs…

Song :: The Kids are all Shite by Mikrofisch… “Coldplay, Keane and Kaiser Chiefs/ Kasabian, Jet and Razorlight/ Kings of Leon, Dead 60’s: the kids are all shite”

In reference to the above lyrics, I will admit to purchasing multiple albums from both Coldplay and Keane, and I also have to admit that, after repeated listening of both bands’ “piano-rock”, their music adds up to not much more than boring, mindless drivel. And that’s not to say that I don’t like boring, mindless drivel ‘cause I do. I just don’t need for piano-rock to spawn a thousand imitators. The other bands listed in Mikrofisch’s shite diatribe can pretty much be summed up as one-time darlings of the music tabloid brigade (ie: the next, best thing). Known as “garage-rock” bands, they also share that shouty, return-to-guitar-rock-but-in-a-fake-kinda-way popularized by groups like Franz Ferdinand and any number of bands sporting matching outfits.

Meanwhile, you can download Mikrofisch’s entire, non-drively album for free from their website. One small iota of proof that them corporate walls keep-a-crumblin’ and that an unheralded band like Mikrofisch can put their money where their drum machine is.