Inside Nokia Music

Shortly after posting about Polysics in my most anticipated albums of 2009, the band put out a newsletter stating that Keyboard player Kayo would be leaving to “experience life outside the band”. The decision was apparently made a long time ago as it was stated in the newsletter that “Kayo made it a basic policy to not leave the band haphazardly. Even after the decision to graduate was made, she still participated in the recording of two albums as well as many live performances, some which took place abroad”.

Kayo, in my opinion, and that of several other fans I’m sure, is an integral dynamic of the band’s live performances. Standing still for most of the performance, she get’s the biggest response from the audience as the kooky one responsible for all the robotic vocoder gibberish and the sporadic pom-pom shaking outbursts.

Kayo “graduates” from Polysics following the show at the Budokan to take place on March 14, 2010, If you have a chance to catch them before this tragic and emotional day, do not hesitate as the band are understandably going on hiatus and I fear will never be the same again.

I Couldn’t find any crazy pom-pom footage, but here’s a Polysics performance that will give you glimpse into what we’re about to lose.

You’ll be sorely missed, Kayo Polysics.

Polysics are available to download from the Nokia Music Store and is completely free to ‘Comes With Music’ subscribers.

Part 9

Absolute POLYSICS

POLYSICS are a Japanese New-Wave-Punk-Pop-Devo-inspired 4 piece, heavy at times and with a live show to boot! I discovered them back in 2005 with the release of POLYSICS OR DIE!!!!, a compilation album for the Western market comprised of choice-pickings and re-recordings of songs from the bands several previous Japan-only releases. What followed would border on obsession for me as I’d go on to watching them perform 7 times and would come to occupy my time with trying to track down the Japanese releases without having to pay the ridiculously over-priced logistical costs of importing them.

So when a friend popped over to Japan on holiday to coincide with the release of Absolute POLYSICS I was beside myself with joy and seized the opportunity to snag this Japan-only release, and in special edition non the less… and this is why this little obscurity made my 10 most anticipated albums of 2009 list.

So how did it live up to my expectations?

Well to be completely honest, I’ve only given it a spin a couple times so am yet to decide.

Stand out tracks so far:

Cleaning, it’s about the closest thing I’ve heard them do to one of my über-favourites Code4.

Seen them live this year:

If they toured the UK this year you can bet your life I’d have a few more belt notches in my live count!… 1 of the 2 best live bands I’ve ever seen!

Here’s a video for POLYSICS most commercially successful single to date.

Selected POLYSICS albums are available to download in certain countries from the Nokia Music Store and is completely free to ‘Comes With Music’ subscribers.