15. IAMX

Echo, echo / I know it's a sin to kiss and swallow

IAMX aka Chris Corner is cool. He's so cool it's almost painful to watch him on stage in clothes that are a cross between flawless goth-emo and a demented leader of a circus, and his fantastic moves. And like MIA, he doesn't even seem to be trying, which of course makes him exponentially cooler.

Before I knew what a cool creature IAMX is, however, I thought his music was cool. 'Kiss+Swallow' was the first song I heard, and I still think it's (one of) the sexiest and sleekest songs I've ever heard. The song sounds like fantastic sex does in, well, our fantasies. (Tori Amos's 'Raspberry Swirl', for the record, is what I think actual, real good sex sounds like.) The lyrics are nihilistic and vapid and so, so good.

A year ago, I went to see IAMX live at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow. (I kid you not. Fantastic bands, unpretentious venue, but asking for directions is a pain.) I don't go for electronica-driven music in general, and was very sceptical about how it was going to work live. Chris Corner and his band (which I believe includes his girlfriend, who is also painfully cool) blew me away. I will admit I spent long periods of time captivated by Corner's top hat, but it was a really cool show even when one ignored the sartorial details. They had the most macabre amputated-looking guitars, and Corner is an engrossing performer. Good times.

I should probably describe IAMX's music so people will know whether to check him out or not. The best I can come up with is a mix between Placebo and Depeche Mode, only with more dynamic vocals. (By this I mean Corner's high register can turn a song airy and floaty, or he can use his pissy-moany voice to add grit.) There's a lot of synth sounds, but also nice vocals, and the synths are closer to, say, Violator than Speak And Spell.

I recommend checking out IAMX's MySpace, which has several songs up (although no 'Kiss+Swallow', alas): http://www.myspace.com/iamx

Here's a link to 'Kiss+Swallow': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e4GQFnKiDw&feature=PlayList&p=49722CEADDE8AA90&index=0&playnext=1

I know it's a sin but / tell me it happens