Klaxons - 'Echoes'
It's probably not worth asking why it has taken the band quite so long to come back, is it? Not when they've returned with a song which sounds pretty much like everything else they've ever done. I mean, you can't blame them for being them. Klaxons are clearly not the kind of band who spend ages in the studio pushing away at the outer reaches of possibility within the field of recorded sound.
Oh sure, they TALK like that's what they do, their lyrics READ like that's what they do, and they DRESS like that is what they do, but they don't. Or at least, if they do, their record company would rather they did not, and have taken steps to ensure this is the case.
They had that one good idea - about fusing old rave music with indie and science fiction - and they recorded a whole album which explored this idea, and then they went away to have fun, recorded and ditched a whole album of songs, and now they are back.
(. Do you think they know they're being filmed?)
Of course, it's not like there is a massive NEED for the outer reaches of sound to be explored, or for barriers to be broken. That's just a recipe for having to build new barriers a bit further away. But you'd like to think somewhere down the line that Jamie and James would have learned a new harmony? Singing in unison, an octave apart - just like they did on 'Golden Skans', musicologists - is all very well, but it's a bit plain for self-styled Sonic Adventurers, isn't it?
I mean even the Saturdays have mastered harmonies which are more complicated than that.
Elsewhere, well there's still that tension between the immaculate perfection of the band's songwriting aspirations and the ham-fisted, squally, messiness of their performance. Everything sounds a bit too loud and boomy, as if recorded on a dictaphone in a huge cavern. These are all plus points, I might add.
There's a parallel to be drawn between this and '70s science fiction, in that it's no longer a vision of the future. And yet it's still a compelling thing it its own right, even though the costumes are ridiculous and the hair is unspeakable.
That said, the stark reality of Tinie Tempah, Lady GaGa and even Mumford and Sons are all proof that time-changed reality is weirder than anything humans could ever predict with their minds. And that's if you're someone who spends most of their time IN their minds in the first place.
*shoots Klaxons a worried look*
Download: Out now
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(Fraser McAlpine)
"I'm really not all that impressed with the music video, it looks like it was created back when MTV actually played music videos."
"I will review it by comparing it to their illustrious back catalogue.."
"they still carry the same arthouse swagger that suggests they take themselves just a little too seriously."
Comment number 1.
At 11th Aug 2010, flatknees wrote:anyone think this sounds ridiculously like doubt by Delphic? in the chorus
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Comment number 2.
At 12th Aug 2010, kutox wrote:I think the whole song sounds incredibly similar to Groove Armada's 'Paper Romance'
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Comment number 3.
At 12th Aug 2010, OddOne wrote:Oddly, I also feel it sounds like Delphic's 'Doubt'... Hmm..
Not heard 'Paper Romance' so I can't really comment on that matter.
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Comment number 4.
At 12th Aug 2010, spirit wrote:I thought it sounded like DOUBT the first time I heard it .
Shame they spent 3 years covering a Delphic song .
It's a fantastic chorus though , and this is being embraced by Radio 1 .
I really like the melody of :
" Echoes reflect and change , they serenade "
Let's look on the bright side , they could have spent 3 years sub-consciously , covering the chorus of a Saturday's album track !
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Comment number 5.
At 12th Aug 2010, kutox wrote:Ok then here is Paper Romance:
Echoes is much more similar to this than Doubt, surely
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Comment number 6.
At 12th Aug 2010, OddOne wrote:Yeah I do see it actually... very odd.
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Comment number 7.
At 12th Aug 2010, U14429597 wrote:I was thinking this would get 5* just because its Klaxons, but i thought to myself 'It can't get more than doubt cause they might as well be the same song!' I mean come on, even the bands have startling similarities (The great harmonies and the electro-indie sound...) But I thought 'Doubt' was a 4* song, like this!
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Comment number 8.
At 18th Aug 2010, U14429597 wrote:This isn't going to be in the Top 40 on sunday by the looks of things!
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Comment number 9.
At 18th Aug 2010, U14429597 wrote:Oh wait, I'm guessing 'Embers' by Ash is 'Echoes'! I came to this conclusion for a number of reasons. 1 There's no song on the radio 1 playlist called 'Embers' 2. Ash don't ave any new songs out and 3. There is no song by Ash called 'Embers'!!!!
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Comment number 10.
At 18th Aug 2010, U14429597 wrote:Oh wait, after searching, it appears 'Embers' does exist. No Top 40 hit for the Klaxons then. I also appear to be having a conversation with myself... *shifty eyes*
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Comment number 11.
At 19th Aug 2010, spirit wrote:Here come the men in white coats Adam ! Lol
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Comment number 12.
At 19th Aug 2010, U14429597 wrote:NO! NOT THE WHITE JACKETS! Back you foul beasts! You will not put me in the cuckoo house again! *swipes out at thin air*
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Comment number 13.
At 19th Aug 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:I think it's kind of obvious that it's not going to make the Top 40 because no-one seems to care about it. From what I've seen whenever it's mentioned people just end up talking about other songs it sounds like.
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Comment number 14.
At 19th Aug 2010, U14429597 wrote:As long as the album does well, I don't care. I don't wan't to see the Klaxons suffer 2nd album failure! They're too good!
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Comment number 15.
At 19th Aug 2010, kutox wrote:I think it's not making an impact because it's undistinguished, as opposed to Golden Skans which was different from anything else and instantly recognisable. I just think Echoes could be performed by any band and you wouldn't notice the difference
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Comment number 16.
At 20th Aug 2010, V1nesh wrote:First time I heard this, thought it sounded like a great track but completely agree - the chorus sounds extremely like Delphic - Doubt which is another quality tune (probably slightly better!) but nevertheless a strong long-awaited comeback even if it has "borrowed" a few ideas from other bands holding the indie fort in their absence.
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Comment number 17.
At 23rd Aug 2010, U14429597 wrote:Their best song still remains to be 'It's not over yet'.
I got the new ablum, its very good. Highlights include 'Flahover' and 'Valley of the Calm Trees'. It's got mixed reviews, however, and recieved a 1/5 for the independent. The Independent suck though, any form of messing around with pop music upsets them!
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Comment number 18.
At 23rd Aug 2010, harrythedog10 wrote:Sadly It's Not Over Yet isn't even their own song
P.S: I agree that the Independent guy on a friday is pretty rubbish, the guy (or guys I'm not sure) on sunday though is quiet good I find myself agreeing with him a lot.
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Comment number 19.
At 24th Aug 2010, U14429597 wrote:I know its not their song, but its a fantastic cover. At one point 'You got the love' was my fave Florence song, although its not Rabbit Heart again.
Their best original song is Isle of Her in my opinion. I really like it, in second place comes Flashover and in 3rd is Gravity's Rainbow.
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Comment number 20.
At 24th Aug 2010, flatknees wrote:i must say those are peculiar choices adam.. the new album is rather poor.. the same thing in almost every song: loud intro - brooding verse - kind of catchy chorus about space and universe stuff - repeat.. just makes me wonder what they would have released had the record label not forced them to make new stuff...
nothing on the 1st album.. isle of her is great.. but their best song is atlantis to interzone.. if you've seem them live then its difficult for it to be anything else.. second for me would be two receivers, third gravity's rainbow
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Comment number 21.
At 24th Aug 2010, spirit wrote:Golden Skans is my favourite from both albums . Superb song .
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