Koji has long been one of the most respected and well-travelled singer-songwriters within the punk and alternative scene. Pumping out his emotionally excessive songs whenever and wherever he can has earned him fans across the oceans and forged friendships with other bands and musicians that will last a lifetime. Before charging headfirst into a full length to follow up last year’s ‘Crooked On My Mind’ though the man has put together a bite size EP for No Sleep Records to see us through, and it’s more than just a set of rehashed B-Sides. This is something else entirely.The thing that has always been so endearing about Koji and his song writing is how varied and far he lets it travel, never sticking to just him and his guitar and always pushing for development and growth. ‘Fury’ is entirely electric full band based and sends out an intriguingly loose 90’s vibe that is almost a world away from the acoustic folk leanings of ‘Crooked On My Mind’. The title track kicks things off with gloom leaning riffs and a quirked delivery while ‘Breaking And Broken’ toys with preppy bounce to counter Koji’s verging on beautifully lazy vocal. ‘Everyday’ trickles out with power pop licks while also oozing heartbroken sentiments before ‘Question’ rounds off this 10-minute emotional stop gap with probing feelings and gorgeously tender instrumentation. It’s short and sweet but ‘Fury’ is generously filled with enough musical talent, heart and humanity to hold more sentiment than just chords and lyrics.
Only every once in a while does a musician with such infatuation for their music come along and delivers songs with such an unbridled level of passion and talent that they simply cannot be ignored. Koji is one of those musicians. The vast range of styles at his disposal and paths that have still not been crossed are a credit to his never ending passion for reinvention as well as the actual strength of the music that he writes. Koji continues to open new doors for himself as a musician and a person and the future could hold absolutely anything. Whatever happens, it is going to sound lovely.
3.5/5
‘Fury’ EP by Koji is out now on No Sleep Records.
Words by Jack Rogers (@JackMRog)
