Brighton’s The Kooks are no strangers to the UK music scene, having released their much-loved debut Inside In/Inside Out in 2006. A juggernaut on its release, it really cemented the group as one of the biggest UK indie acts of the late 2000s and they’ve been a mainstay of major festivals since, bringing their unique blend of indie. The group now returns with their seventh album Never/Know and one of their strongest since they first broke out.
Opener ‘Never Know’ has a summery sheen to it, perfect for the upcoming festival season. Sunny pop to kick things off. It feels like it will slot effortlessly into their setlists. Speaking of festivals, single ‘Sunny Baby’ is drenched in smooth riffs, easy to picture swaying to in a field. It feels like a throwback to the ’60s and ’70s with its jangly guitar and harmonies, shades of psychedelia built around Luke Pritchard’s vocal,s with soft female backing vocals adding to it.
This is certainly a different side to The Kooks to the likes of ‘Naïve’ and ‘She Moves In Her Own Way’, but it suits the group, almost 20 years on from the release of their debut LP. It shows a band that is not content to rest on their laurels and is keen to broaden their palette.
‘All Over The World’ continues in a similar vein, driven by slick riffs and harmonies coupled with wry lyrics (it wouldn’t be a Kooks record with out those). Again, the infectious positivity feels perfect for a laidback summers evening.
‘If They Could Only Know’ retains the rock n roll feel. As with the rest of the album, it feels like we are hearing a far more mature group here, showcasing their musicianship in ways they haven’t previously. This is especially true on ‘Compass Will Fracture’ where the group really cut loose in the second half, with searing guitar solos and pounding drums, certainly not something fans might expect from a Kooks record, but seamlessly slotting into the sonic trajectory of this particular record.
Pritchard’s vocals are in fine form across this record, but especially strong on ‘Tough at The Top’, placed at the forefront and showing plenty of grit. It has a real sense of swagger to its groove, a highlight on what is a very strong collection of tracks.
‘Echo Chamber’ feels closer to the sound of previous Kooks works structurally, more pop-driven, although with some soft keyboards and added instrumentation that help it feel distinct. It’s a marriage of the familiar and some of the more unexpected elements found on this album.
Never/Know is a pleasant surprise from a group that has been around for over 20 years and who, at this stag,e could quite easily have gone through the motions. There is a real sense of care and fun across the board. It feels like the perfect fit for the coming summer months, a blend of fun, energetic tracks with more muscle than some of The Kooks’ previous work. There is a sense of growth and depth that is refreshing to see.
Editors’ Picks
- Album Review
- Festival Music
- Indie Rock
- Luke Pritchard
- Never/Know
- new album
- Rock ‘n’ Roll
- The Kooks
- UK Music
