KIN THE ZOMBIC HUNCH ALBUM BLOMKRAFT RELEASE: APRIL 20, 2005 REVIEW: MAY 19, 2005

Don't get any unrealistic expectations here, hobby philosophers of the world. Why Kin chose the title "The Zombic Hunch", referring to philosopher Dan Dennett's expression for the nagging suspicion that consciousness is separate from brain function, is beyond me. She may have Nature magazine as bed reading, but none of that turns up in the music or lyrics of this cunningly marketed pop product.
I know the demographic group that Kin and her team are trying to exploit by presenting her uninspired pop with squeaky vocals as "electronic manga pop". There is a growing subculture of very young goth girls with cute Emily the Strange-bags and a love for Japanese shoujo comics. Perhaps Kin, with her "cute crazy girl" image, is one of them. At any rate I'm sure those girls have musical tastes far too interesting for them to spend much attention on the affected angst and silly psychedelia that is "The Zombic Hunch".
The songs are not bad for melancholic pop going nowhere special. Before you know it the album is over, and you're only slightly disgusted by the syrupy feeling that the production and Kin's vocals leave in their wake. Perhaps that is what she has in common with (bad) Japanese comics?

MATTIAS HUSS