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If anybody reading this has ever been to Walla Walla, Washington, they know that its not the sort of town one expects to give birth to an electro-pop band; it's a town whose population awaited the construction of the local Applebee's with baited breath. If Walla Walla was the town from Footloose and dancing was electro-pop the Company Kang would be its Kevin Bacon.

After enrolling at Whitman College, Brian Abelson, a random Persian guy, and Keith Cushner met in Walla Walla in 2004. The first permutation of what would ultimately be known as "The Company Kang" appeared in 2006, when Cushner and Abelson played one fire-starting show utilizing only a drum kit and a korg synthesizer. Playing for a handful of semi-inebriated lookers-on, the duo's instrumental dance tunes sufficiently moved the small party, but the lack of lead vocals (besides Abelson's bourbon-infused chants) led to the group's immediate downfall. However, in the summer of 2007, the Kang was born again when a random Persian guy joined the band and began to contribute vocals and pop song-structures to the group's compositional palette. What resulted was, to quote bwank.com, "the future of electro-pop" – an infectious and shameless mix of synthesizers, electronic drums, and nervy vocals which is equal parts Phil Spector as it is "Planet Rock."

Armed with a catalog of home-spun recordings, the new-fangled trio began to gain notoriety throughout their senior year by entering in various national music contests, eventually earning them a spot at the 2008 New American Music Union in Pittsburgh where they were given the honor of playing in front of a Cheesecake Factory. While the show was a success – at least 10 people looked up from their Mojitos to watch the band perform – Abelson, a Persian guy, and Cushner knew it would be short-lived as they were set to part ways at the end of the summer.

Now dispersed across the country, (Seattle, Chicago, and New York), The Company Kang are poised to spread their unique brand of electro-pop from the comfort of their respective studio apartments, utilizing the Internet to compose new songs and shamefully market themselves. Though hindered by great distances, the band's music speaks for itself and is sure to furnish them an escape from the drudgery of entry-level life.

"I have seen the future of electro-pop and it is the Company Kang. The relatively newfangled Walla Walla-based trio are virtually unknown. But their songs, which capture so much heart they’re almost hard to swallow, imply a certain eminence that will undoubtedly be attained.

Unlike most fledgling groups, The Company Kang are likable because they are painfully self-aware. “Sweden”—a conflation of 80s pop merriment and James Murphy-esque crooning—conveys this striking sense of selfhood. Each and every utterance is exacting, incisive and overwhelmingly addictive. Lead singer Matt Aliabadi’s maladjusted tone is murky and deliberate, unforgettable altogether.

And although a Persian guy may serve as the mouthpiece for the group, nothing speaks more poignantly of their individuality than the music itself. The inexorable click-clacking of beats and shamelessly sonorous synths coalesce to form a singular trance-like state. Simply put, the conscientious nature of their songs consumes you.

The Company Kang have a touch of brilliance in their composition that is few and far between. This is the sort of spunk that portends a great outcome for the modern-day electro scene."

-Joshua Pressman, http://bwank.com/

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Check out this great documentary, directed by our friend Ben Kegan, that a Persian guy scored:

Tribeca Shorts: Team Taliban

Posted to New York Magazine by jgreen on April 23, 2009

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For booking, press inquiries, and other information, please contact thecompanykang@gmail.com

Check out a live performance of "Tell All Your Friends" at the NAMU Festival in Pittsburgh here: http://www.ae.com/web/77e/music/festival/college-bands.jsp