Album Review: KASABIAN - Velociraptor!

‘Kasabian’ are a band I have been in to for quite some time. Ever since their debut, self titled album in 2004 in fact. The English indie/rock band formed in Leicestershire in 1999 have been around for some time, but with three solid albums as it stands in ‘Kasabian’ (2004), ‘Empire’ (2006) and ‘West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum’ (2009), I was excited to listen to number four, ‘Velociraptor!’ and review it here.  

The influence of a band I’ve been listening to a lot recently, ‘The Stone Roses’ can be heard in their first album in particular. The third single, ‘Club Foot’ from their debut release, ‘Kasabian’ elevated the band in terms of success in the UK. From then, they have continued to a cause a buzz in the UK music scene and have an avid following. Indeed, third album, ‘West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum’ was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 2009 and named 'Best Album' at the Q Awards the same year. The subsequent year, Kasabian won the ‘Best Group’ gong at the Brit Awards as well as the ‘Best Act in the World Today’ title at the Q Awards.

Kasabian started work on their fourth album, Velociraptor!, in November 2010 with Dan the Automator as producer. Written and produced by ,Sergio Pizzorno, the 11 track album is strewn the anthemic indie rock for which the band have become renowned. It’s clear to define the influences on this one. Think, ‘Chemical Brothers’ and ‘Primal Scream’ of the modern era and ‘Led Zeppelin’ and ‘The Beatles’ of days gone by.

‘Let's Roll Just Like We Used To’ starts with a garbled noise that sounds similar to the intro to MJ’s, ‘Smooth Criminal’ before a trumpet solo kicks in and a movie soundtrack like theme commences. It’s a Middle Eastern mantra that transforms in to a dizzying dance beat takes the fore. It’s a vintage ’60s sound which immediately casts up, Alex Turner and his, ‘Last Shadow Puppets’…it’s a 007 theme tune on ecstasy. ‘Days Are Forgotten’ continues with a drum and bass beat synonymous with some of the previous three albums from the band. The chorus is catchy as hell and combined with a dirty blues riff throughout, my toes are tapping the floor and my head is nodding approval. One of my favourite tracks on the album for sure…this is the Kasabian sound that I love.  For sheer catchiness, it’s only competing with the albums’ title track.

‘Goodbye Kiss’ is one of the more ballads sound of the, ‘Kasabian’ arsenal of tunes and I think it works well for them. It’s a romantic serenade and a solid track in which lead vocalist, Tom Meighan woos us with his wistful lyrics. Perhaps this is one for the more mature, ‘Kasabian’ fans (like myself). ‘La Fée Verte’ is very, ‘Beatles’ in sound and even references, ‘Lucy in the Sky of Diamonds’. This fits in somewhere between, ‘Sergeant Pepper’ and ‘Octopus’s Garden’ - “How does it feel, to live your life when nothing is real, so just send me down the river".

Title track, ‘Velociraptor!’ is most definitely a continuation of where previous album, ‘West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum’ left off. It’s abundance of energy, crashing drum beat and rapid guitar riffs make for a fast and furious track with decent, but not amazing lyrics layered on top. It’s somewhat psychedelic, but at the same time, very rock ‘n’ roll. In essence, it sounds like a musical of a really good night out. Following the mayhem that proceeded, we are offered, ‘Acid Turkish Bath’ which is certainly one of the slower songs on the album. More Eastern influences on this one. The heavy guitar on the chorus sounds like ‘Led Zeppelin’ and there are elements of this track where lead man, Meighan morphs in to, Plant. I want to like this song, but it’s not one of the stronger offerings.

‘Hear Voices’ begins with a buzzing synth before a more composed, ‘Kraftwerk’ like keyboard fills in the rest of the track. Again, this is a decent track, but by no means outstanding. Following my slight disappointment of the prior tune, ‘Re-wired’ is a song that definitely reintroduces us to the the, ‘Kasabian’ of yesteryear. It’s big, it’s grungy, it’s rocking and the lyrical delivery is superb. The chorus is the kick up the arse one needs and could well make my Monday morning playlist – “Hit me harder, I’m gettin’ re-wired”.

‘Man of Simple Pleasures’ starts with something of western strings and has me picturing, Clint Eastwood with his Stetson in hand against a red sand, desert setting. This is again ballad in nature. A smooth, wellc comprised, easy listening track. ‘Switchblade Smiles ‘ is proper, ‘Kasabian’. This track is a journey and a half with outstanding bass, heavy guitar riff, tribal vocals and electro-phased beats merging in to a sound of controlled frenzy – “you feel it coming”. The closer, ‘Neon Noon’ kills the chaos and frantic noise of, ‘Switchblade Smiles’ with more of a slow burner to close out. This is very trippy and again, in the, ‘John Lennon’ and ‘Beatles’ mould. It’s something of a divergence from the rest of the album, but bands do that in closers from time to time. I would have preferred them to finish with the raucous sound for which I enjoy them, but as I said before, this band has the ability and desire to change up their sound.

Guitarist, Pizzorno claimed - "It’s been 15 or 16 years since the last truly classic album, but I think we’ve done it." This is the kind of bold and brash attitude that goes along with the band and makes focusing on their music and not their persona the only way to like them. ‘Rolling Stone’ praised the creativity and versatility of the album, calling it Kasabian's greatest album and stating there is a big future ahead of the English band. For me, it’s a solid sounding album, but by no means a “classic”. In fact, following just a couple of listens of the oddly named, ‘Velociraptor!’ I can safely say I prefer most of their previous albums (this may well change with further listens…Kasabain’s music has all the attributes of a ‘grower’). It will be intriguing to watch how far this talented group go with their abundance of talent and sounds. Rating: 7/10