Another 7” from my Capture Tracks five-pack, Vancouver duo Cosmetics’s Soft Skin was the biggest surprise in the bunch. Going from not knowing anything about the band beforehand to instant fan after the needle raised on the A-side, the group’s seductive minimalist dance music is good enough to hook anyone after one listen.

With S&M tinged titles “Soft Skin” and “Black Leather Glove”, it’s no surprise that sex plays a role in the music. However, instead of using not-too-discreet Prince-like references to “the act”, the Cosmetics’s approach is more indirect and a lot more subtle — with the sensual feeling being mostly set by the tone of the music rather than sexually explicit lyrics. With a throbbing electro-bassline and bare-bones percussion reminiscent of The Raveonettes’s “Aly Walk With Me”, no doubt both tracks on the 7” could easily fit into a DJs rotation at one of those crazy underground dance parties where pretty much anything goes (in fact, it seems like some of their live shows are just that).

Not to say the lyrics aren’t sultry, because they are. Aja Emma’s whispered lines of “I get a feeling of pleasure / when I wear black leather” is enough to put anyone in the mood (don’t tell fellow bandmate Nic that, as the two are an item), however the soft drum-machine cymbal claps and sustained synth buzzs gives the song just as much appeal as the smoky vocals.

Thanks to Nic, you can check out the B-side track, and my personal favorite, “Black Leather Gloves” below. If you need more material, Emmanuel at the Delicious Scopitone posted two other songs that are definitely worth checking out.

Cosmetics // Black Leather Gloves

Tags: 7'', Capture Tracks, Cosmetics, mp3

This entry was posted on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 8:00 am and is filed under 7'' Series, Musical Musings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.