BLACK & NOIR by KAS PRODUCT

Soul Jazz Records are releasing a collection of lost recordings by French mutant experimental synth group Kas Product, all originally recorded in the period 1980 – 83Kas Product formed in 1980 in Nancy, France, as an electronic duo comprising ex-psychiatric nurse Spatsz on electronics and rhythm machines and Mona Soyoc on vocals and guitars. Kas Product feature on Soul Jazz Records’ recent 'Punk 45 – Les Punks: The French Connection'. Mainly recorded on early tape, synth and drum machines Kas Product’s mixture of Spatsz’ hypnotic, electronic and angular hard-edged beats matched to the spiky vocals and guitar work of Soyoc led to comparisons with Suicide, Liliput/Kleenex, Cabaret Voltaire as well as to the group being forerunners of the cold wave/ synth wave movement. Perhaps closer still is the Industrial sound of bands such as Throbbing Gristle and Einsturzende Neubaten. At the start of the decade Kas Product's 'So Young But So Cold' was also the title track of a defining collection of rare underground electronic French coldwave/synthwave bands on the Tigersushi label. The recordings here are taken from their early releases on the local Punk label from Nancy, France at the start of the 1980s, mostly recorded on a 2-track recorder in their bedroom, which led to them signing to RCA in 1982. These songs were first put together on CD by the French Fan Club label in 1990. Essentially the group split-up in 1988 but Kas Product still come together to perform live today most recently in Paris, New York and Los Angeles. In 2012 their major label debut album was re-released in France.