Independence… Sovereigning from ear to ear
Review: Kosheen – Independence
Published on October 11th, 2012 | Jonny Abrams
Yep, this sounds like a Kosheen album…and why not? It’s the usual dark, ravey synthery, hypnotic beatery and lovely unshowy vocalry, so suffice it to say it hits the mark as usual.
Kosheen’s formula allows more for diversity of rhythms than any great shifts in mood, so while the first half of the record is full of thrills – not least the sci-fi Goldfrappery of “Bella Donn”, so gripping is the swing to Sian Evans’s vocal line, and the exuberant single “Get a New One” – there is then a sag in interest levels until the gorgeous floaty ambience of “Out There” and “Enter” towards the end of the running order.
Along the way there are drum and bassy moments, dubsteppy moments, trip hoppy moment, and all the while there is a satisfying murk inhabiting the otherwise crisp production that keeps Kosheen welcomely sans sheen.
There’s something about the Bristol quartet’s sound that’s like the ’80s being dragged into the now having accrued many bells and whistles from the intervening decades as it went. Independence is further proof that you can depend on Kosheen, depending on what you’re into of course. Depending.
Rocksucker says: Three and a Half Quails out of Five!
Independence is out now on Moksha Recordings. For more information, please visit www.kosheen.com
About the Author
Jonny Abrams Editor of Rocksucker and the website's founder, Jonny is passionate about the music he listens to, both good and bad, as well as interviewing his favourite musicians.
