Kula Shaker - Strange Folk
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Music CD Cover Artist: Kula Shaker Edition: Music CD CD Release Date: 2008-02-19 Music Label: Cooking Vinyl Soundtracks:
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Free Music Notes for Strange Folk Album
Free Music Review: A triumphant return for a band that was missed...
Hit: 5 Stars
At first listen, I wasn't sure what to make of this record. It seemed to be going in various directions. And after the bombast and wall of noise in previous album tracks like Tattva, Hey Dude, Govinda, and Mystical Machine Gun, well, I was expecting more of the same.
After giving it a second and third listen, I "got it". I didn't need to hear more of the same - but what I heard I fell in love with.
Make no mistake - this is Mills and Bevan at their swirling, powerful, 60's/70's fueled musical soundscape creating best. But this is an older, wiser, smarter band - a band that spent 7 months on the road learning how to play together again - a band that learned what it means to kick back and jam (and like few can do, make it SOUND like you're sitting down, sipping a top-shelf drink, and _feeling_ the groove in a nice, comfortable dark bar).
Mills still can snarl and seduce - sometimes in back to back verses. But while he still throws a few political barbs in, he does it with a sense of humor and a laid-back attitude. He isn't taking it so seriously anymore - and to great effect. Some critics (like the perception-first rag NME) tossed this album off as an also-ran band, making fun of Great Dictator -- but they've missed the point. It's meant to be silly, it's meant to be tongue in cheek. And fun. It has a point, but we're not going to lose sleep over it.
The influences are all over the place. McCartney. Lennon. Dylan. Floyd. 90's Britrock. And, Old Kula Shaker. But they pull it off - they don't sound like they're copying anyone's sound. And the album gets stronger as it goes on.
The only real 'miss' is the title track; but it's more of an intermission than a song.
Highlights:
Out on the Highway - 2nd UK single - nice beat to get your feet tapping and head bobbing.
Second Sight - lead UK single - produced by Sam Williams (who has produced much by Supergrass), I sort of hear a bit of The Animalhouse here; great power track.
Song Of Love / Narayana - What can I say - this is Kula Shaker - the Indian instruments blend in nicely; the Indian chorus is quite trippy. Well put together. A major highlight.
Shadowlands - This one has a Lennon-esque feel. Nice, soft, melodic track.
Fool That I Am - oh, this one is neat. Nice classic rock poppy vibe, with a real neat hard organ that sounds like The Doors.
Also fantastic Hurricane Season (evokes a bit of Dylan and Folk), and 6ft Down Blues (great groove and superlative bass line).
Overall - *****. Highly recommended. A return to form. A tight band. The production is fantastic and well balanced, and the recording's clean.
Give it a listen or three - I guarantee you'll fall in love with it.