SPOTIFY THROWBACK | KASABIAN

Kasabian

We could easily tweak LOTI to be Leicester on the Inside this week. Who wouldn’t want to be vibing in a city that’s won the Premiership at a staggering 5000-1 odds? It’s gonna be a party there for some time. Prodigal musical sons of the city, Kasabian (not forgetting Showaddywaddy, Cornershop and Gaye Bikers on Acid) have brought forward a home gig from next year to the end of this month, to play what will be an undoubtedly a career highlight and mash-up night of epic proportions at the King Power Stadium. What better time to revisit their self-titled debut for this week’s Throwback Spotify Thursday.

2004 saw Facebook launch (only 12 years ago), Ireland introduced the smoking ban, Harry Potter’s voice had just about broken, and JJ and JT inadvertently coin the phrase ‘wardrobe malfunction’ after nip-gate at the Super Bowl. Musically, George Michael drops his last album, Keane release Hopes and Fears and The Prodge follow-up Fat of the Land with Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned. In the midst of all this, Eddie Temple-Morris’ legendary XFM show The Remix (launched in 2000) champions perhaps the archetypal ‘Dance meets Rock’ band to fit the show, Kasabian.

Rock and Electronica. It’s been done before (Prodigy, Audio Bullys) and since (Digitalism), but Kasabian perfectly captured the swagger of Oasis, the baggy, indie chops of the Stone Roses and Charlatans with a fairly subtle mix of electronica that wasn’t all about 4/4. Kasabian – Kasabian is a mix of sounds and influences that was definitely brave yet banging. Sergio Pizzorno wrote and composed all the songs with fellow bandmate Chris Karloff (lead guitar, synths, omnichord, and some bass) but its Serge’s dynamic with lead singer Tom Meighan and his angry, lazy, messy but fitting vocals that make the pair, the ‘front’ of the band.

The album has a shuffling funk at its core, but is beefed up by psych and folk influences, krautrock, baggy and big beat. Club Foot made it on to countless licensing agreements due to its bombastic opening riff. It sounds like early Chemical Brothers (chart botherers at the same time) and demonstrates the neat line of vocal hooks that pepper the album’s choruses. Processed Beats sounds like an old funk and soul break has been dusted off – all heavy drums and distortion like DJ Shadow. Big bass and drums feature on Bristol flavoured Butcher Blues and Ovary Stripe, the two closers that sound like they could be soundtracking Bond.

Synths are given a workout on intros, interludes and tracks such as I.D and Pinch Roller and the majority of the lyrics have a nihilistic, drug-fuelled, paranoid, angry edge to them that may be wearing over time, but in the context of this debut, is entirely forgiven. You can hear all their influences deftly woven in, and they definitely have a distinct sound and maybe, formula, but on closer inspection, they’re a highly talented bunch of musicians.

Kasabian – Kasabian is a definite BLAST from the past, but for those in Leicester for the homecoming gig, it may not even matter what they play as it will most definitely, go OFF! Follow us on Spotify for great music and playlists.

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