Here's a fact; Kasabian are the best and most exciting new British band since Muse emerged in 1999. So you see straight away which side my bread's buttered on! This is exciting stuff, and i defy you to say otherwise. I struggle to think of the explanations behind the poor reviews. These are probably the kind of people who think Linkin Park are a groundbreaking act.
Okay, this sort of music has been attempted before, but not to such awesome effect. Kasabian mix indie rock with funk beats, and all manner of twisted synth bleeps and signatures, set to sometimes breakbeat rhythms. Named after Linda Kasabian, the getaway driver for Charles Manson and his 'family', their image is dark and mysterious, with their logo the suggestive masked mercenary figure. Permanent members and songwriters are guitarists Sergio Pizzorno and Christopher Karloff, and vocal duties are performed by Tom Meighan and Pizzorno himself.
1) 'Club foot' The opening track and second single release is based around an infectious guitar riff, which is repeated by Pizzorno and Meighan's voices on the chorus, along with a trademark rock 'grunt'. Kasabian's unique appeal is their layers of electronica to the dense guitar-based psychedelia and indie rock. This demonstrates it brilliantly, and after the second chorus, a loud, squealing synthesiser takes the track to dizzy heights, and we are engulfed in a swirl of psychedelic haze that rings out nicely.
2) 'Processed beats' Supremely funkworthy drum beats guide this, the fourth single from the album.
Another chorus using vocal humming as the melody, this is funk with a capital 'F'. This will have you nodding your head and tapping your feet all day, and contains typically Kasabian-ish lyrics i.e. strange and cunning. The track ends with some great synth keyboard signatures.
3) 'Reason is treason' This debut single is pummelling and rhythmically tremendous. A driving hard-rock melody undercuts the rumbling chorus; "Here come the morning when i say goodbye to ya, Here come the morning when i say goodbye, But i don't turn around 'cos your reason is treason" Some lovely vocal harmonies and throbbing electronica add to this glowing ball of adrenaline.
4) 'I.D.' Fantastic track that shows a keen sense of harmony, a slow-tempo grinder that builds to an almost euphoric chorus, with Meighan and Pizzorno's harmonies painting a throbbing wall of sound. Hypnotic and memorable.
5) 'Orange' This is a short 'interlude' track. The track names on the artwork are printed with old style 'square' computer letters, with the tracks bold except for two 'mini-tracks', this being one. It is unique, and defines the track by how big the lettering is. This is essentially an instrumental follow-on from the previous track. A different sound, but still nice harmonies, this is an elegant little track.
6) 'L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever)' Opening with a signature keyboard jingle, and Meighan casually warming up. Soon, the mass of sound layers are thrown in together, heavy bass leading the way. A familiar vocal structure for the verses, and the bridge consists of more harmonic humming, before a slow-tempo but breathless and energetic chorus; "Aaah, oh come on, we got our backs to the wall, Get on, and watch out, before ya kill us all!" An infectious track and hit single, it fades out to the same keyboard jingle, with funk drum beats.
7) 'Running battle' With a very clever 'lone gunfighter strolling down a deserted town with the sun high in the sky and the vultures circling' string melody, rumbling and foreboding, this has a 'deserted ghost town' vibe about it. A lovely undercurrent of pulsing synths drive it, while Meighan's voice and lyrics remind me most of Richard Ashcroft here. A very laid-back track, the synths take over now and again, but the wry melody is the star here.
8) 'Test transmission' Meighan gives his vocals more of a rhythmic pyschedelic wail here, and a funkworthy laid-back but fairly fast-tempo rhythm is present. Hand claps are added too, and the synths give a swirling, glossy sheen late on. Not many audible guitars, this is mainly synth territory, with a very catchy vocal structure to the chorus. Very nice.
9) 'Pinch roller' Another 'mini-track', this is a glossy, starry-eyed synth workout, swirling and very pretty, leading us in to the next track nicely.
10) 'Cutt off' Ah, a barnstormer. My favourite track, this is a welcome break from some more laid-back funk tracks. Beginning with a brilliantly eery echo of what sounds like a flute melody, but is listed, i think, as an 'omni-chord', it is met by swirling synths, and then the main guitar melody collides with it for the rousing intro., complete with crashing drum beats. This then brilliantly cuts out to just rhythm, and some creepily foreboding chiming synths for the verse, opening with; "John was a scientist, he was hooked on LSD, Interested in mind control, and how the monkey held the key..." We then get some funk-ska style guitars, and a strange musical blur, before the chorus, which is the omni-chord melody hummed loudly by Pizzorno on backing vocals, while Meighan delivers a chorus that means business. After the second chorus, we slow the music down, and cut drums, so the third verse is slow, with throbbing synths backing, until the drums force their way back in. This masterpiece eventually fades out to a hazy synth melody, with drums following proudly.
11) 'Butcher blues' Some strange distorted crowd voices lead us in, and then an invincible bassline which sounds soooo familiar takes over. Minimal percussion, and a slow-tempo, with lazy lyrics, with the rather worrying droned chorus; "I just can't stop losing control, i said that i just can't stop losing control" A very laid-back vibe, with omni-chords and synths joining us in parts, and some wailed background vocals, this is great.
12) 'Ovary stripe' A superb instrumental, a distressed-sounding synth melody is soon joined with omni-chord, and a rather good guitar signature. The strings are keenly felt for the atmosphere, and there are twists and turns amidst the major melody. Highly recommended listen.
13) 'U Boat' What's that? Crickets and helicopters i hear!? Maybe, but then a spacey, pulsing synth melody joins us, with Meighan wailing, seemingly in distress, about what i can't quite make out. I can't really make out the song either, but it's a quirky piece of work that never really gets going. But then, like all other tracks here, it has it's own unique charm. Harder to decipher though.
Some albums will also now have a massive gap, then a brilliant remix of 'Reason is treason' which outstrips the original. This album is great value for money with the amount of long tracks, and the short tracks and remix. Nailing my colours to the mast again, Kasabian are the most exciting new British band since Muse. I strongly advise you to check out this album, and their quirky b-sides, recent and readily available everywhere. Their appeal is in their constant twists and turns, direction changes and layers of instruments, swirling psychedelia with a large dollop of funk and indie sensibilities. But most of all, Kasabian are dark, brooding and mysterious.
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Thank you for a great review! It was easy to read, comprehensive without being overly long and complicated as some reviews can land up being. I've just got the album and apart from the Linkin Park ;) I pretty much agree with your assessments.
woodnymph 23.10.2005 22:54
Great album I agree. I got it about a month ago and I haven't stopped playing it since...
tashat 06.08.2005 18:50
A fantastic album! Though you appear to be mislead on the whole Linkin Park front :p xx
Advantages: Plenty of mood, plenty of groove. Intensely atmospheric. Disadvantages: Too much like the Stone Roses. Slightly samey and pretentious- too much electronic wizardry.
thomlafferty 04.10.2004 (04.10.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Kasabian - Kasabian
Advantages: A superb album, with swagger, great vocals, invention, clever melodies, and powerful rhythms Disadvantages: It took me so long to find them...
jonwebb5 24.06.2009 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Kasabian - Kasabian
Advantages: Plenty of mood, plenty of groove. Intensely atmospheric. Disadvantages: Too much like the Stone Roses. Slightly samey and pretentious- too much electronic wizardry.
thomlafferty 04.10.2004 (04.10.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Kasabian - Kasabian
Oct 22nd, 2004
(Oct 23rd, 2004)
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