Kasabian: nothing maybe but definitely here

On the day the eponymous debut album by the Leicester foursome Kasabian is released, as well as Natasha Bedingfield’s maiden disc, the attention looks set on an LP that is celebrating a decade of its release. It appears that Oasis’ re-release of ‘Definitely Maybe’ is all the rage with the media. How long are we going to look back as if it were gold-gilded period and forever be afraid to turn forward?

Kasabian lads live on a farm together and that is the definite sign of a true band. If memory banks are not running low, it was Charlie Watts who said that you don’t become a band before you all share the same space and time. So, ‘Kasabian’ reflects a unity of ‘us-versus-them’ that is backed with some fine rock/dance crossover music.

The form was explored during the Madchester era by The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays but also those reprobates Primal Scream. There is certain echo of Joy Division and Krautrock in few instances and one couldn’t wish for a better set of influences/inspirations [in our manual]. For the difference from the Oasis lot, this also contains some very modern-cum-futuristic noises.

Opening majestically with ‘Club Foot’ and even improving the party mood with the tracks such as ‘Reason Is Treason’, ‘I.D.’ and ‘Butchers Blues’ by adding atmo with a dosage of angst. In between these tracks there are more reasons to be cheerful with ‘Processed Beats’, ‘Test Transmission’, ‘Cutt Off’…

Tom Meighan and the main songwriter/lyricst/co-vocalist [occasionally a lead] Sergio Pizzorno save the best for last with ‘Ovary Stripe’ sounding like a soundtrack to a spaghetti-Western and then ‘U Boat’ floating in on a couple of minutes on a simple loop before reaching outer limits of intoxicated mind in an avant-fashion of Deutsche-welle.

For the duration of these 14 tracks [inc. hidden one and two mini-ones, i.e. Interludes] it sounds like anarchy could be possible, again. And, the world being the way it is, it may not be a bad direction.

Kasabian is a band worth donating hours of one’s life to.

8/10
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Tour dates:

12 October - Parr Hall, Warrington
14 October - Liquid Room, Edinburgh
15 October - Leadmill, Sheffield
16 October - Blank Canvas, Leeds
19 October - Astoria, London