Record Label: Guess What!
Genre: Alternative
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Shaka Ponk are a French band who reside in Berlin and sing in English and Spanish. I like them already.

Their music has as much crossover as their geographic identity. Their name looks like bad penmanship for Ska Punk, but their sound is a catchy, high-energy mix of electronica, rock, dance, and funk. They have a youthful obnoxiousness, though, that makes them less like a Kinky and more like a non-chill Gorillaz on crack. (Is it just coincidence that their mascot is a digitized gorilla?)

A little metal and German industrial sensibility, such as on the catchy “French Touch Puta Madre” and “Te Gusta Me,” give them more goofy aggressiveness than they need. Still, I have to acknowledge whatever force makes my booty move. And electro dance-rock tunes “Prima Scene” and “How We Kill Stars” do just that.

Bottom Line: Think an upbeat Gorillaz with Devo, Robocop Kraus, and Rammstein mixed in.
Notable Tracks: Prima Scene, How We Kill Stars, Do, Make It Mine (which mixes together bhangra and funk carioca!)
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