Tonbridge Indie band Keane started life in 2007 with their Emo-perfect debut ‘Hopes and
Fears’, and have now moulded themselves into a mature, but still emotional,
and well established Alternative band.
After achieving
platinum status with their last album ‘Perfect
Symmetry’ in 2008 with over 300,000 sales in the UK alone, a lot rides on ‘Strangeland.’ The album also
introduced guitar to Keane’s music
for the first time ever, departing from their piano ballad past. Despite mixed reviews
from critics for ‘Silenced by The Night’,
released on the 13th of March 2012 and ‘Disconnected’ which was released on the 27th of April
2012, ‘Strangeland’ has topped the UK Album Chart!
Straight up non-teen Emo/Indie Pop, ‘Strangeland’ is emotional fuelled from the offset. ‘You Are Young’ is rhythmic, retains Keane’s stunning piano drive and
vocalist Tom Chaplin delivers top-notch
arena-filling melodies. Having done their must-do rapid departure sound with
guest rapper K’Naan on ‘Night Train.’, Keane are now back to doing what their fans love; magic.
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| 'Strangeland': Artwork |
The opening
of ‘Silenced by the Night’ is bright,
pulsing and joyful; the band have clearly found their signature sound and are
selling it by the truckload with this cheery, accessible track, but manage to avoid
the dreaded link to limp Pop/Rock bands
often fall into. Vocals are soaring,
organic and flawless, and touch on the anthemic attribute so many bands and
artists stride for. However comfortable with their style Keane become, it they sound like this, there is no room for complaint.
With twisted electro-pop elements entwined with an unthreatening
melodies, Keane are untouchable. Yet, ‘Disconnected’, lives up to its name
and its dim tune sets it apart from other tracks, for the wrong reasons.
Although, once Chaplin kicks his
vocals across the instrumentation, the song becomes just as huge as the first
single. Despite the fact that both the band’s singles are placed back to back
on the album, as they are so varied, it works incredibly well, and becomes
effortless alongside Keane’s energy.
A nod to Radiohead and Coldplay; ‘Black Rain’
and ‘Watch How You Go’ prove that the
boys make use of their inspirations in the right ways; as starting points to
help form their unique, natural vibe. Mid-tempo ballads and inspirational instrumentation,
Keane are unstoppable. ‘Sovereign Light Café’ conveys just
how much the band has gone back to basics for ‘Strangeland’ with the help of English producer Dan Grech-Marguerat, who has worked with Radiohead and The Vaccines in
the past.
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| Keane |
‘On The Road’ is
as chirpy as an S Club track, and
musically immaculate, right down to the almost acapella bridge complete with
tambourine. Whether optimism fuelled or not, the elegance of the choral arrangements
with tracks such as ‘The Starting Line’
and ‘Neon River’ can’t be denied. The
pattern of ‘Day Will Come’ and ‘In Your Own Time’ sets Keane apart from any notion they are
tepid or whiney; especially with ‘Strangeland’
having a theme (that also manages to not override the musical quality at all);
friendship, love and loyalty.
Gentle, beautifully-written
and seamless; ‘Sea Fog’ is stunning.
Followed by title track ‘Strangeland’,
which severely fails to excite to the extent of a single, but trickles,
unspoiled into the jaunty backbone of ‘Run
with Me’. To bring the record to a close,
‘The Boys’ depicts an experimental endeavour that still makes use of Keane’s signature styles, making it
flow wonderfully into the bright final track ‘It’s Not True.’
After
eight years under their musical belts, countless live shows and a pin-pointed
flair, Keane have become affluent in
terms of musical ability, and secure in their style. ‘Strangeland’ is, without a doubt, their best work to date.
5/5
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