Guybrush

Introduction :

The band :
Crispian Mills - Lead Vocals/Guitars
Alonza Bevan - Bass
Paul Winterhart - Drums
Harry Broadbent - Keyboards

When I first signed up here, I got just a little heat in my own introduction thread because I'd written somewhere that I liked Kula Shaker. Actually, I still do and while I may not think their 90s albums are amazing start to finish, they certainly know how to put together some brilliant tunes.

But let's start by taking a few steps back. In case you've never heard of them before, they are a multi-platinum selling psychedelic rock band to come out of the english 90s britpop scene. Their brand of psychedelic retro rock is flavoured with cultural and musical influences from India - instrumentically, thematically and sometimes linguistically as they've written a few songs in sanskrit. They're not entirely uncomparable to some of Finland's 90s space rock band Kingston Wall's output, but with a little more variation and a more polished and poppy sound*. Their debut album K was released in 1996 and was followed up by their second album Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts in 1999. Both albums sold rather well and had multiple singles and the band got to enjoy a bit of success and controversy†. However, they still decided to call it quits and disbanded before the end of the century.

In 99, I got Peasants, Pigs and Astronauts as a gift from my sister and I enjoyed it so much I went and got K as well. For this reason, I was quite bummed when I found out the band I'd just gotten into had disbanded right after I found out I liked them. Oh well, that's the way it goes - and I thought that was that until late 2007 when I found out they were back together. Not only that, they had released their third album that same year!

So - Strangefolk from 2007 was released 8 years after their second album. Helping them produce the album was a star-team of hit makers and grammy winners, yet it has been met with mixed reception since it's release. What do I think of it?


Detailed Review :

Kula Shaker's previous album openers have been good‡ and Strangefolk is no different. It starts off fresh with pop rocky Out on the Highway, a feelgood guitary song with bucketloads of catchyness and hit potential. To people familiar with the band, it's perhaps a bit simpler than you've come to expect but it's still a brilliant track and has become one of my favourite songs from the group. What's also enjoyable perhaps especially on the first spin is that thankfully, they still sound like Kula Shaker - the band they were in the late 90s.

I don't think there is an official video for the song, but I had no trouble finding it on youtube. Check it out!



Second Sight is also rather good, although not as immediate as the first. Like it's predecessor, it's tight with drive, has enjoyable guitar and while the verses are a little sedate, the refrains are nicely hard rockin'. It's the kind of song which suits them well. Even Crispian Mills nasal vocal style really shines.

Die For Love sounds like it was made by a hit-maker. There's nothing wrong with it, but compared to their better songs it's somewhat unoriginal and sounds slightly like it was placed there for soppy single potential. Dictator (Of the Free World) sounds like an inspired attempt at Cool and playful but unfortunately also comes across as quite silly.

The title track Strangefolk is a monologue with some indian instrumentation which is there likely and simply for concept, but it is followed by quite a curiosity, Song of Love/Narayana. Am I crazy or did I just hear an instrumental cover of two Prodigy songs smacked into one? I think I did. Maybe you know the excellent Climbatize and Narayan from The Prodigy's third album The Fat of the Land? Seems Kula Shaker thought they'd be good if you mixed them together and played them with real instruments. The reason for this turns out to be less coincidential than it might first seem. Actually, Crispian Mills helped write the song Narayan for The Prodigy .. The result here is enjoyable, but it's appeal comes mostly from the fact it's a curiosity.

Shadowlands is a slower, more sombre song which is good, but not very memorable. Fool that I am however is quite the little earwig. It's melodic, soothing and strangely remorseful and the brightest gem on the album since we left the first couple of tracks. It is followed up by another remarkably charming and marine inspired Hurricane Season, a song in 5/4 which is roughly about a sailor caught by the sea.

He was hanging in the darkness holding to the line
Faces in the water of folks he'd left behind
Saying 'boy you must be crazy should have stayed at home
Stuck with what you'd started, stuck with what you know'
And the sea had come to take him and snuff him like a light
In the black and heavy water, in the black and heavy sight

Add some lovely guitar and organ solos reminiscent of rock's golden age's Deep Purple and you got the best track on the record. Again, it's not as immediate as the others - it's a grower - but it's easily the most memorable song on the album. Here it is :



The next three tracks are not exactly bad, but on the numerous listens I've had, they haven't really grabbed my attention. They're actually all enjoyable, but that's it for me. Kula Shaker's goodbye for now, the last track Super CB Operator, is perhaps the most fun of the bunch and is a rockin' feelgood party track.


Review Summary :

Strangefolk I think is a good album, nothing more and nothing less. The production value is rather good and for the most part, they sound like their old self and I get the feeling they're comfortable and have fun with what they're doing. This comeback probably won't blow anyone's minds as it contains quite a bit of mediocrity in it and even a dose of embarassment. Still, there are fortunately also a few moments of brilliance and they may be worth checking out. The quality of the album is not however entirely consistent. It's a bit hit or miss.

Those who really like the band should of course check it out. I'm sure they'll find quite a bit to like here. Those who don't know the band and/or are just sceptical should consider getting the album, but only for those few really good songs that hopefully will appeal to them. Essential for people who like the band and recommended to those who like what they hear in the youtube vids above, but non-essential to the rest!

Toretorden's treasure trove score : 4/6

Favourite tracks : Out on the Highway, Second Sight, Fool That I Am, Hurricane Season


*Kingston Wall of course have other redeeming qualities

†Frontman Crispian Mills' admittant and outspoken love for the swastika, which among other things is an important symbol in Indian culture, led some people to believe he was a nazi. The same people probably thought the swastika was something Hitler came up with in his spare time. Mills' added admitted liking for dandy uniforms probably didn't help matters further.

‡Particularly the track Hey Dude from their 1996 debut K

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