Kyoto Kyoto

With an impressive ability to solder kraut-inspired, progressive noise rock and psychedelic ambience into five-minute segments - all set against a wall of post-rock intensity - Kyoto Kyoto are crystallising their reputation as one of the most significant acts to emerge from the underground circuit. The brainchild of Levent Ceylan and Scott MacDonald, the project began through a series of European gigs in 2019 and it continues to take off - clocking in the release of the eye-catching Mirror Flexing Jaw EP in January 2022. The collective’s sonic palette is bolstered further thanks to the recruitment of bassist Olek Nixon; and the haunting new accompaniments of flute player Gail Tasker. 'Trier’ is the return single - part of an autumn triple header which sees Kyoto Kyoto grace the Left of the Dial showcase in Rotterdam, finishing at the Old Blue Last on November 5 for a release party with Moreish Idols and Rosie Alena. The band’s live following is at the heart of the hype, helping bring Kyoto Kyoto to the attention of key tastemakers 6 Music, Fred Perry, BBC Introducing. They have shared bills in 2022 with fellow trailblazers Opus Kink, Waterbaby, Butch Kassidy and DEADLETTER - not to mention playing to a sold out Islington Garage in support of math-rock giants Tricot, on the sold-out London leg of their Europe tour.

The track itself is a furiously shapeshifting tapestry. It was created in what the band look back on as an ‘intense’ recording session in Glasgow with producer Chris McCrory (Catholic Action). It’s a critique of a commune, Lev’s hometown of Trier, which has come to subconsciously writhe in its own social decadence as the people ‘lose sight of the art, the history and architecture that surrounds them’, he reflects, ‘and how slipping into day-to-day comforts exacerbates the disregard for what made the city great.’ Sonically, ‘Trier’ is an amalgamation of sections created over a period of time. The frenetic industrial rock opening collapses into twisty math-inspired guitar play, a section conceived as far back as four years ago in Germany in a jam session with Krautrock contemporaries of Damo Suzuki from Can. From unrelenting bursts of noise to utterances of prayer and breakcore drumming, ‘Trier’ reflects that Kyoto Kyoto ethic of leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of their craft. ‘Trier’ releases on November 1st on Blitzcat Records.