Kismet. Kid Gulliver

Kid Gulliver's singles have come by on this blog ever since Red On Red Records opened it offices in Boston. The string of pop-punk powerpop singles has resulted in the album Kismet and it is such a joy to listen to it.

Kid Gulliver is a duo, Simone Berk sings and David Armilloti writes the songs and plays a lot of the instruments. The bass is mostly played by Eric Otterbein and the drums are shared by Will Porturo and Sandy Summer. Between them they reach for pop punk heaven and come a long way there.

On all songs melody is combined with energy and noise fully in service of a great pop feel. The result is songs that are easily identifiable, fun to sing along to and just plain fun overall. A conclusion does not have to be more complex when there's no need to. Kismet is fun, period.

This conclusion is not the same as the album having no substance. A song about chemotherapy takes away every single thought about lightness. The same goes for 'I Started A Joke', one of Bee Gees many hitsingles in 1967 - 1969. This is far from a fun topic. The cover is though. There's no other word for it. My only question here is, why start the album with a cover song when you have so many strong songs of your own? Perhaps because it is so different from the original slow ballad that it has become a Kid Gulliver song.

If I have to mention anything less positive about Kismet, it is that Simone Berk's voice is somewhat flat for a whole album. That said, her voice fits the music like a glove, while her enthusiasm certainly compensates a lot. What also compensates, is David Armilotti's inventive guitar playing. There are quite some solos to enjoy on Kismet. There's no cutting the budget where guitar overdubs are concerned. The harmonies and even a duet in 'Beauty School Dropout' do the rest.

It is the whole picture that makes the album so nice to listen to. The drumming is oh so nice and the bass plays some really interesting parts in songs like in 'Gimme Some Go'. I can't help hearing "gimme some dope" in the ska rhythm song with horns as if The Specials have come back in vogue. These little extras provide Kismet with an extra layer of music to enjoy.

I had never heard of Kismet. Destiny is the translation I found, but in a fatal sense. It stems from the Islam, so the Internet tells me. To have an album with such a serious title that is so much fun to listen to! Let me rest my case with one of the singles released, 'Boy In A Bubble'. Can songs come more bittersweet than this? All is minor where this song is concerned. The lyrics, "Oh how I wish I was kissed by the sun/anyone today", expresses a near fatal longing, yet the guitar riff/solo is so joyous. The whole atmosphere of the song so utterly expressing being alive. If 'Boy In A Bubble' does not touch you, I can only muse what does?

"I Wanna Be A Popstar" Simone Berk sings on Kismet. Wanna be? Mission accomplished as far as I'm concerned.

Wout de Natris