Kamarova

"Kamarova" is the self-titled breakout album from one eclectic, and eyebrow-raising, New York group. Mixing edgy electronic music with rock and punk they sound, at first glance, how Franz Ferdinand may if produced by Trent Reznor. Yet, as Kamarova has expressed, they consider themselves very much a Pop band.

"We love and are inspired by everything from weird electronic music like Mouse on Mars and classic Industrial stuff like Throbbing Gristle, to Maroon 5 and Plain White Tees. It's all good and we try to throw it all together in our own unique way ? our own uniquely accessible and Pop-friendly way."

The band's name is inspired from the Siberian City, Kemerova, where a friend of the group had traveled. "When we were trying to name the group, and not agreeing upon anything, he sort of walked in and just started talking about his travels throughout Russia," Kamarova explained. As the legend goes, when the traveler described this city as being on one hand normal, like any other city in the world with post offices, libraries, street lights and so on, and on another really bizarre in a Siberian, off-the-map sort of way, everyone in the band perked up in unison: "Hey, that's like our music!"

No doubt, listeners will be warming up to breakout tracks like the dance-rock hybrids "Refugee" and "Let It All Down," the latter a potential party anthem reminiscent of beery 90's hits like "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba. The band shines best, however, in their darker introspective modes as "Rebel" would attest. Here, in an edgy Annie Lenox-meets-Seal musical environment, the singer likens a planned end to what appears to be a twisted S&M relationship to that of political revolution. "On The Line" as well, has a deeper personal component, but here sounds familiar to the soulful Urban-House of Gnarls Barkley, with lyrics of hope and liberation, all backed by a euphoric choir.

In a world where the map of Pop music has become undone, and is up for grabs, Kamarova seems poised to lay claims to their own unique territories. Due north, of course!

Kamarova releases on Amathus Music: