Kidbug＜限定盤＞

The sound of Kidbug will be familiar to anyone who was alive during the great grunge deluge of the late 80s/early 90s as well as anyone who might have discovered Nirvana in the years that followed. Adam Harding of Dumb Numbers and Marina Tadic of Eerie Wanda are certainly card-carrying members of the former camp; Harding has even made records featuring members of the Melvins and Dinosaur Jr. Kidbugs debut album doesnt delve too much into the harsh or heavy nature of grunge, instead the duo lean more towards the sweet and melodic side. Partly its because the two musicians were in the initial stages of a long-distance love affair when they wrote the songs, partly its down to the soft and introspective nature of Tadics songwriting and vocals. Shes far from a belter, and on songs like Lovesick or Together that have some doomy grunge power in the music, her dulcet tones keep things light. The band (which includes Bobb Bruno of Best Coast on bass and Thor Harris of Swans on drums) doesnt just stick to re-creating grunge; they also take a solid whack at downtuned dream pop (Woozy), peppy alterna-pop that would have fit right in on a Breeders album (Good Inside), soft psychedelia (Stay), and upbeat shoegaze (Moonglue). Whatever style they attempt, they nail it perfectly. Harding and Tadics vocals blend together perfectly, the guitars mesh together like giant, gnarly gears, the production (unlike a great many of the bands they so clearly admire) is down-to-earth and clear, and the songs are hookily memorable. In every way, Kidbug comes across like the labor of love that it clearly is, both to a sound and an era and to each other. Other bands have tried a similar thing and it hasnt worked as well; it feels like empty nostalgia or a craven career move. Harding and Tadic have the skills and passion to make it sound exceedingly fresh and new. In fact, if one were to hold Kidbug up to the light in just the right way, it might be on par, or better than, the best efforts of the bands theyve sought to emulate so reverently. ~ Tim Sendra