Clazziquai Project wants you to believe that chocolate truffles fall from the sky, and that experimental fusion need not be a dizzying ride into a confusing mix of genres. The group keeps its finger on the pulse of electronica with the new album Mucho Punk. They’re far removed from their days as a Korean indie band, having found a place in the Asian music scene that is dominated by pop and manufactured male groups.

What’s in a name?

The group is the brainchild of DJ Clazzi who creates and produces the music, fusing classical elements with acid jazz, lounge, and techno, complemented by the fluid vocals of Alex and Horan. In fact, the group’s name is a playful abbreviation, in Korean tongue, of classical music, jazz, and groove. One of the defining moments in Clazziquai’s career was taking part in the original soundtrack of the phenomenal television series, My Lovely SamSoon. It was the first time the general public knew of their electronica sound, a privilege which used to be reserved for Korean netizens who had access to their earlier works available online.

The Asian music market is no stranger to the band’s resume. The group is signed under major Japanese label Avex, and has had collaborations with M-Flo and Fantastic Plastic Machine, to name a few. Sales have also poured in from the Taiwanese market, where their albums are found in record stores as well. Clearly, music fans from Seoul, Japan, and Taiwan have embraced the infectious brand of electronica from Clazziquai.

Mucho Punk

What’s genuinely refreshing about their techno tunes is that it doesn’t fall prey to the overkill of vocoders lording over Kpop music today. Rightly so - who needs synthesized effects that much if you have smooth and fluid vocals that blend well with each other?

The band draws us into a melodic exploration of electronica’s diversity starting with the breezy harmonies in ‘Chocolate Truffles’ and ‘Lazy Sunday Morning.’ Techno reaches a mid-tempo mood in ‘Take a Walk,’ where we’re treated to Horan’s enchanting voice. ‘Back in Time’ has instant appeal, starting out in subdued tones and progressing into a good moderate beat. DJ Clazzi lets loose with more upbeat dance tracks, ‘Kiss Kiss Kiss’ and ‘Love Again.’

If you want to sample a sweet spin on the techno genre, the new album Mucho Punk is too hard to resist. Having none of that earful of chaotic vocoder voice effects, Clazziquai offers a welcome refuge from all the messy electronica proliferating in Kpop.

Rating: 4/5

- Felice Tusi

Links:
Official Artist Site - http://www.clazziquai.co.kr/
Bio - http://www.imeem.com/groups/g-gIKu6J,clazziquai/