Album Review

Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

• 9th Jun 2009

With 2007’s Empire receiving generally middling reviews, this might be a make-or-break record for Kasabian; will it consign them to a footnote in recent indie history or revive the flame that burned so brightly on their sparkling debut?

‘Underdog’ is a promising start, fuzzy guitar and synth sets the tone before the beat kicks in and vocalist Tom Meighan’s trademark sneering vocals embark on a groovy number replete with waily chorus harmonies. All the trademarks that got them big to start with are there and sounding good, as is the dense production courtesy of Dan the Automater, a figure more usually associated with hip-hop whose work on the album is accomplished.

‘Fast Fuse’ is a crowd-pleaser, aptly titled as it races along on its up-tempo fuzzed-out bassline, the lyrics are charged with a Stooges-esque punk hedonism while the mix keeps it interesting with quiet/loud, slow/fast dynamics and a richly layered arrangement. ‘Take Aim’ on the other hand, is a sprawling, self-indulgent work with its psychedelic acoustic-meets-electro vibe.

Kasabian have never been too cagey about wearing their influences on their sleeves; stripped of its production embellishments, ‘Thick and Thieves’ could be slipped unnoticed into a Kinks best of, and current single ‘Fire’ sees Meighan brooding like Jagger all the way up to the Stonesey strut of the chorus

A strong, varied collection of songs ends on the incongruously low-key piano ballad ‘Happiness’, a sweet reminder that, beneath all the noise and attitude, there’s considerable songwriting muscle. Kasabian have upped their game and made a mature, tune-laden album that should be more than enough to remind fans of what they first saw in them five or so years ago.