Search - Kula Shaker :: Strangefolk

An Outstanding Offering from Kula Shaker.

Thomas Dopko | USA | 07/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After purchasing the "Freedom Lovin' People EP" and listening to some of the newest cuts from a beloved band I had thought gone forever, I was a little worried. The sound was a bit earthier and lacked the over-blown production values that made "K" and "Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts" so amazing.



Then my pre-ordered "Strangefolk" arrived and I found that my fears were not to be realized. It is an outstanding release and is a welcome addition to the other two full-length studio releases. It is not "K" or "Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts", either in style or approach (though it is closer to their 1999 efforts than the earlier material).



1. Out on the Highway - 9/10

This one is a very solid song. It has multilayered instrument tracks that are balanced with softer verses to create a near perfect blend of wall-of-sound with moments of calm and quiet.



2. Second Sight - 10/10

There is a reason this one is the first single. It has all of the elements that make Kula Shaker such a phenomena in this age of mediocre artist offerings. An amazing 60's vibe is embedded in this song. The vocals, harmonies, organ, beat and guitars are all outstanding.



3. Die For Love - 6/10

A slow, plodder of a song. I like it well enough, but compared to the others it is neither fun nor particularly catchy. It has a heavy beat and a great lead, and is not bad for the style employed. "Mystical Machine Gun" was slow, but it was freakin' amazing in its scope and depth. This one is just ok.



4. Great Dictator - 9/10

Great tambourine-laced beat and terrific backing vocals. This track is not only a great rocker, but the lyrics are a hoot. I won't spoil the punch line, but the vocals are perfect for the message. I like this one a lot.



5. Strangefolk - N/A

Strange music with a David Lynch-like voice track over the top. One of those weird read in reverse and then played in reverse so that it sounds a bit off types of things. Kind of cool, but not really a "song" if you get my drift.



6. Song of Love/Narayana - 10/10

A bit of the Middle East (chanting) with a 60's Bond-theme horn section thrown in and populated with traditional Crispian vocals and the trademark harmonies. The song is a complex collection of styles that has to be heard to be understood. Great beat too!



7. Shadowlands - 7/10

Slow, strolling tempo with great atmosphere. A nice song in general, but a bit tame on the whole. I know that not every song needs a steady, driving beat and lots of layered effects/instruments, but those are the songs that appeal to me the most. Again, the song rolls along and is quite enjoyable. It does calm things down after the preceding track.



8. Fool that I Am - 7/10

Kind of Doors-like musically, with verse lyrics kind of Peter, Paul and Mary-ish. This one is another mid-tempo, lower-level offering that is good (not great). It has many VERY 60's sounding elements, but again is oceans away from the heavier stuff.



9. Hurricane Season - 9/10

This one has what can be identified as a jazz beat, though the music and style continue on with the 60's vibe established with "Fool..." Starts quiet with a crossroads-y lyrical style that is blown away by the time we hit the middle of the song. The instruments come on hard and heavy and are just amazing. Then it calms back down for the final minute or two.



10. O'l Jack Tar- 9/10

Quiet and the music reminds me a bit of "Flying" from Magical Mystery Tour. I like it, even though it is fairly soft. The vocals have a nice reverb, echo-y quality that I find appealing.



11. 6Ft Down Blues - 10/10

Kind of a departure from the rest of the styles. A nice heavy beat throughout most of the song with Crispian retaining the bluegrass singing style used throughout most of the songs. It isn't the same approach as the other high-ranked songs, but it is still a great tune. Darker in its tone and generally heavier in the overal tone.



12. Dr. Kitt - 8/10

This one is another with the keyboards lifted right from a Doors song of your choice. This final track is another mid-tempo with lots of 60's vibes. Harps, flutes and the weird "Strangefolk" voice at the end of the song make this one a surreal experience.



13 Super CB Operator (Bonus Track) - 9/10

When I heard this one on "Freedom Lovin' People EP" I was not super impressed. I'll be honest though, and let you in on a secret. It is actually a fun and extremely catchy song. I'm enjoying it much more now than previously. If I hadn't given the song a middling review on the EP, I'd bump it up to a 10, though it is not standard Kula fare.



14. Wannabe Famous (Bonus Track) - 8/10

The final listed tune is a faster tempo song with a non-traditional Kula Shaker approach to the architecture of the transitions. The chorus has some Who-like qualities, and on the whole it is a somewhat unconventional track.



15. Persephone (Hidden Track) - 7/10

This hidden track is quiet and acoustic for the most part. I could almost imagine Andy Sturmer writing something like this after "Spilt Milk" in the same vein as "Russian Hill". It is a nice, if not too memorable closer.



Summary: I loved the release overall, and would recommend it to both Kula Shaker fans and interested parties alike. It does not have the cohesion of "Peasants..." and may not have radio friendly songs like Tattva or Hey Dude from "K", but it is a new sound for the band and it is one of the best releases of 2007. It may take a few listens, but once it has become intgrated into your mind, you will agree that it is quite good indeed. They have not simply rehashed their previous sounds and as a result may not please everyone, but think that it is a stunning release and well worthy of a listen."

Still hazy after all these years

Mervis Twitch | Backwoods of Georgia | 09/06/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Wow, I thought I would never hear a new Kula Shaker album! This is easily my favorite album of 2007. The music remains relevant, but woefully, some of the lyrics are politically misguided. After the swastika debacle, one might think Crispian would tone it down. Still, it's a great incense-and-lavalamp piece of work. Light the Barry Gibb candles and warm up the hi-fi, Mama... they're letting me come home soon."

A new Kula Shaker album! It's Amazing!

A. Chadwick | USA | 01/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was visiting London last week and to my surprise I saw this album at the HMV at Gatwick. I never knew the group got back together - what a great surprise! If you were ever a fan, this album will not disappoint you."