KYOTO/ZOE SINATRA - Venetian Blinds

The Belgian crate diggers behind the STROOM label have dug up more overlooked gold here, bringing together two disparate but equally impressive tracks. On the A-side you’ll find Kyoto’s 1984 single “Venetian Blinds”, a curious but hugely enjoyable chunk of bustling, off-kilter synth-pop rich in crunchy machine drums, undulating bass, Prince style guitars and stylish female vocals. Over on the flip it’s all about Zoe Sinatra’s 1990 B-side “Mais Qu’est-ce Que Tu Fumes”. This semi slow-motion affair wraps half-whispered, half-sung bi-lingual vocals and alien synthesizer melodies around a rubbery but chugging electronic groove.