Tribute

Description

Founded in 1980 by SPATSZ (keyboards/electronics) - originally from Nancy - and MONA SOYOC (guitar, piano, vocals) - an American of Argentine descent - the duo quickly carved out a place for themselves in the French music scene. The 'sound' of KaS Product challenges conventions with songs in English and machines at a time when France only accepted its native language and the guitar/bass/drums trio. The group made their first public appearance in May 1980 at the Musiques Nouvelles festival in Nancy and recorded their first self-produced EPs, Mind Seven and Play Loud, which were immediately noticed by the press and radio in France and England. - - By blending the urgency of punk, New Wave sound, and a minimalism made possible by their duo configuration, KaS Product redefined the accepted limits of rock in France and beyond for nearly 10 years. Advocates of independent music, driven by a desire for marginalization and opposition, the group achieved significant acclaim, particularly from foreign press, an unexpected recognition for their taste for boldness and risk. A raw expression at the expense of melody or musicality at all costs is particularly evident in their first two albums: Try Out and By Pass. - - A third, more intimate album, Ego Eye, was released in 1987. In 1988, the duo went on hiatus. In 1990, the label New Rose released Black & Noir, a compilation of their first two self-produced singles and previously unreleased tracks from the 80s. Often considered pioneers of the electro-clash movement, the group retained the energy infused by Punk and significantly influenced a large part of the current French synth-pop scene. - - In 2005, KaS Product reformed for the Eurockéennes de Belfort and a few concerts in France before returning permanently to the forefront in 2012. While KaS Product was finalizing a new album, their first in 20 years, and preparing the release of a compilation for their 40th anniversary, Spatsz suddenly passed away on February 1, 2019. - - Completing these projects is a given for Mona Soyoc. Delayed by the health crisis, the compilation project was finalized in 2022. - - - When we see the formidable and convincing energy displayed today on stage by Mona Soyoc, recently with Mellano Soyoc, we wish we had experienced the phenomenon at its inception. - - - Tribute is neither a 'best of' gathering the most well-known tracks of KaS Product, nor a 'tribute' with other artists covering their songs. It is, in the truest sense of the word, a tribute that Mona Soyoc wanted to pay to her partner Spatz, 'the important man in her life,' who suddenly passed away in February 2019 while they were working on new tracks. As she explains in the preamble to other testimonies, she chose 18 tracks that, while not overlooking essentials like Never Come Back, So Young But So Cold, or Pussy X, still leave room for songs that deserve to be rediscovered, such as Above, re-adapted for the stage, and the surprising Mind from their first single in 1980. - - It even includes 4 unreleased tracks that are also being released as a Maxi single under the title Indoor Lyfe: Miracles, Doors, Foreign Land, and Taste Eternity.