ALBUM REVIEW: The Klaxons - Myths Of The Near Future
- Posted on February 7, 2007 4:33 PM
- 1 comment
By Danny Stockwell
Anyone who may doubt claims that the British Music industry is currently in its healthiest state ever, would be well reminded that the last decade has seen some of the finest UK debut albums ever released. Both Kasabian's eponymous debut and the Arctic Monkey's 'Whatever People Say I Am...' are without a shadow of a doubt genuine contenders to the likes of 'The Stone Roses', 'Definitely Maybe' and their numerous rivals. Add to that list The Klaxon's recent opus 'Myths of The Near Future'.
No Bloc Party - 'Silent Alarm'? Well you either fall into the category that this too is an instant classic or one of the most overrated debuts in recent memory, I fall into the latter. The reason I also mention Kele Okereke and co, is that listening to the Klaxons instantly reminds me of Bloc Party. Whilst Jamie Reynolds, James Righton, Simon Taylor-Davis and Steffan Halperin's sound has been largely credited as 'Indie-Rave', both groups sound to me like everything that the over, incorrectly and confusingly used term 'Indie' has come to represent in modern day Great Britain.
As a former Indie kid who long ago discovered the joys of House and Techno (via Hip Hop) and subsequently re-discovered the simple fact that both Electronic and Rock music done well can be as devastatingly mind-blowing as each other, their acquisition of this generally loathed term goes way beyond the use of Rave era sounds and cover versions of club classics. For me (unlike many guitar-based bands) their music contains a raw energy and edginess that eclipses many of their contemporaries, alongside a constant element of melody that instantly reminds me of Dance music at its very best.
Like all truly great albums, this gets better with every listen and it is a struggle to find a weak track on here. The previously released singles 'Atlantis To Interzone', 'Gravity's Rainbow', 'Magick' and current 'Golden Skans' are undoubtedly amongst the finest on here, but are equalled by opener 'Two Receivers', 'Totem On The Timeline' and their epic reworking of Grace's mid nineties House classic 'Not Over Yet'. All use a similar template of cryptic lyrics, charged guitars and echoes of Electronica, backed by all four's vocals that touch on every kind of musical emotion. This is an album that works whatever your listening mood.
2007 has hit the ground running in terms of releases, with genuine contenders for albums of the year already from Jamie T, The Good The Bad and The Queen, The View and Just Jack (we are still only in the second week of February!). 'Myths of The Near Future' would seem to be winning the race thus far, though there are some BIG albums forthcoming and I am sure Bloc Party may well have something to say about this, particularly as their second album 'Weekend In The City' looks set to leap frog all the aforementioned in this week's album chart. But don't let this put you off, The Klaxons have lived up to the hype and delivered a fantastic album. The future of British music just got even brighter. 9/10
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Comments (1)
liam
Wow, spot on guys. A great article, well written and to the point. I couldn't agree more about the Bloc Party album (let down) and I'm also loving the Klaxons sound. Please keep up the good work and long live British music - surely the finest asset of this fantastic island? God save the queen.
Posted on February 8, 2007 7:32 PM
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