Kula Shaker

Strangefolk

Aug 14, 2007
2 Comments
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It’s possible that no album has arrived at NME Towers on more of a hiding to nothing than ‘Strangefolk’. For younger readers, Kula Shaker were eminently punchable mid-’90s toffs with an irritating line in Indian spirituality-obsessed psychedelia, and, in Crispian Mills, the most instantly hateworthy frontman who ever lived. Depressingly, the vaguely impressive Verve-isms of opening track ‘Out On The Highway’ suggest we may be forced into the most unlikely critical coddling in music journalism history, but as soon as Mills indulges his inner hippy on ‘Second Sight’, the die is cast. The title track sounds like it is vocalised by the female speech function on a Mac’s TextEdit facility and is roughly the worst thing ever made, yet it’s still only the third-worst track on the album (‘Great Dictator (Of The Free World)’ and ‘Dr Kitt’, in case you’re wondering). ‘Strangefolk’? Shitberks.

Pete Cashmore

2 out of 10

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Comments (2)

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tunkio

Aug 31, 2007

Kula Shaker has made a comeback after several years of hibernation. On their new album 'Strangefolk' the line up is the same as it was on 'K' and 'Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts' except Harry Broadbent has replaced Jay Darlington on keyboards.

On 'Strangefolk', Kula Shaker have returned to their sound on 'K' with catchy melodies and choruses never forgetting the psychedelic touch to the songs. The album is anyway more straightforward than it's predecessors, cutting down the India-influence and adding strong guitar riffs, but at the same time it gives space for the listener to get in to the atmosphere of the songs. The greatest part is the solid cooperation of the band and the once again ingenious and unique guitar playing by Crispian Mills. The high points of the album are the opening song 'Out On The Highway', which is arguably the best song by Kula Shaker ever, 'Die For Love', 'Great Dictator (Of The Free World)' and 'Hurricane Season' which is definitely a masterpiece.

The only flaw of the album is the title song 'Strangefolk' which should have been cut off the record because it lacks all reasons as to why does it even exist. Otherwise Kula Shaker