Album Review
Kasabian - Self Titled First Album (Released in Sept 2004)
By Marco
After reading KOKO Asia very own Johnny Mayo's quest to meet his idol, Tom Meighan from the band Kasabian, I thought it prudent to bring you guys an outline of where they came from and to discuss their early work, their first album, that shot them to fame.
The band started off at school in the oh-so-not-rock-n-roll town of Leicester. No offence to any reading Leicester-ites but apart from Showaddywaddy, who else has been unearthed from middle England (no jokes about hobbits please!). The original cast was Ash Hannis on drums, Chris Karloff on Guitar, Serge Pizzorno on guitar and Chris Edwards on bass with Tom Meighan taking vocals. They met at school and went under the name 'Saracuse'.
Karloff, at the time, one of the driving forces behind the band began reading a book about Charles Manson, the infamous Cult leader and certified nut case in the 60's. A major player in the Manson story was Linda Kasabian, the getaway driver for the man, they called the 60's moron (well i do), who, turned star witness to make sure that Mr Manson - as I shall refer to him if we ever meet (just to stay on his good side) - was put away for many, many life sentences. The name Kasabian struck a chord with Karloff and he offered his opinion to the rest of the band who quickly decided, that 'Saracuse' was no more. Kasabian was born.
My first interaction with Kasabian was through forums on fan pages where the band quickly realised that they way to a fans heart or at least to drag the students out of their bed-come-pits was to chat online and then invite them personally down to gigs. The Libertines had lead the way in this form of self promotion and Kasabian were quick to catch on.
The self titled debut album "Kasabian" was released in September 2004. The band had used the same technique I mentioned when reviewing Oasis in a previous KOKO Rewind piece by recording the album live. This meant that the studio was set up much the same as it would be if they were doing a gig.
As with most bands, a couple of singles had been released prior to the album’s release. Processed Beats was released as a demo but it was 'Reason is Treason' that was the first official release. 'Club Foot' and 'L.S.F' were also release prior to the album release.
The much anticipated first album opens with the quite brilliant 'Club Foot'. Now if ever a song laid down exactly what this band was about and where they wanted to be, it was this track. This was Big. To me, when I listen to it, It feels like a fight. Not a violent fight but some kind of battle. As with many of Kasabians tracks, there is chanting. Chanting to which god, nobody knows but when you have a drink in one hand, a fag in the other, you really don’t give a fuck, you just chant. The gritty opening with its distorted guitar, sounding more like a really fucking powerful saw grinding at you is a feeling ill never forget when I first heard it. This was my anthem of 2004. To be honest, it still is to this day. It sends shivers up the spine and when you see this live and you see Tom thrusting himself through the vocals, when you see Serge battering his guitar and Edwards holding it together in Mani style, you can’t help but have it!
After that rambunctious opening, we are then taken on a completely different trip. 'Processed Beats' is a rock n roll band showing that you can dance to them! Parts of the drum and bass beats sound like a fusion of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream. Very, very obvious comparisons to make but Kasabian still had their own style. Clever lyrics such as:
'I break bones stealing mobile phones
And I'm cuttin deals for these homeless meals
Making idle threats using chinese burns
As you load my head with the Grateful Dead singing'
What does it mean? Fuck knows but It sounds good to me when you are high as a kite in a field, again chanting along with Serge and Tom. This song just goes with the flow and again is a great example of a rock n roll band not afraid to use samples.
Next up and my personal favourite is 'Reason is Treason'. If this song was a car, it would be a really fucking fast one. From the moment it starts, it drives you. This song, would be the track that whenever I needed to win a friend over to the ways of Kasabian, I would take them to a live show and excitedly jump on them when this starts, saying things like "....this is the one....this is the song...wait for the bit in the middle!..." The bit in the middle is what I like to call the "rave bit or the trance bit". It was the moment, when live, the light show would darken and a small red light would race around the stage, if you were not high by this time in the gig, you were about to go 'Big'.
I keep referring to them live, not because I feel that the album does not do their songs justice but more because live or recorded, Kasabian manage to capture that same feeling whether you are in your bedroom listening, at a club dancing or in a field having it!
Another thing I feel I need to explain is the term 'Big'. Kasabian and their mates are known for partying hard when the time is right. They know how to 'have it' and a phrase was needed to describe what they were about to do or what they had done. I have no idea who came up with it but if you are going out to really party, then you are "going big!". If you are recovering from a heavy night then this means "you went big!" Get it? Obviously, I now have no need to explain that if you go "Mega' then god knows what you got up to! Mike Jonns, if you are reading this, I know it’s you who created it! Mike IS BIG!
Fourth song on this album was 'I.D', a slower song that seems to have a lot more meaning to the lyrics, its a great break up in the album, just to remind you that yes, we do have more chanting tracks (its a lads band, what do you expect) but its slower, more thoughtful. I don’t believe that with this album, many of the tracks create any other feeling inside you other than to enjoy yourself and party. Sometimes, bands try to be too clever and write very deep and meaningful tracks. I think that in 2004, the clever thing was to party and to instruct everyone to join you on that party. Kasabian, in that case, were genius!
'Orange' follows I.D and is what we call an interlude. A piece of music that is a reprise of a previous song or just something to break the mood. When I heard this, It made me think of the theme to a very dark film called 'Clockwork Orange'. The theme to this film was as dark as the movie itself and this song on the album gave me those same shivers. Later, Kasabian started to come on to the 'Clockwork Orange' piece of music as they walked on stage so maybe I was not far off with my observations!
'Lost Souls Forever' is up next or 'LSF" for short. This song has to be considered as good as the first track 'Club Foot'. It shows this status by recently replacing 'Club Foot' as the set closer at gigs.
'Come on it, get on it
I'm carving thru a letter bomb
I need it, like potions
These drugs are just an hour away
Come on it, electronic
A polyphonic prostitute, the motor's on fire
Messiah for the animals'
Another call to arms, this is more like a call and response, with the typical Kasabian flowing and samples. The bass riff and gentle tickles on the guitar with a drum beat we have now become accustomed too during this album, keeps the song on a 'big' tip. (You understand what this means now). Break beats and the recurring stream of toms vocals again prove that you can dance to this band. Yes, they are Rock N Roll but dance fans were buying into this album too. Remixes were coming through left, right and centre but frankly, even the album as it was intended is a dance fan must buy. This was proven when Kasabian headlined the famous dance festival Creamfields. Their music was crossing over in this heady days which was no bad thing!
'Running Battle' sees a more passionate song, where the vocals are pleading with you summed up with the line 'I'm cutting and I'm bleeding here with you' The first glimpses maybe of a tortured soul somewhere in the band maybe?
'Test Transmission' sees Serge take the vocals, a welcome break up of the album, Serge sings in a more melodic way and the song shows another more, as I said, melodic side to Kasabian, I hear clapping in the back ground which I can only assume is Tom Meighans contribution to this song! Live, However, this song gives Tom a chance to show us his extraordinarily powerful thrust and move motions! Its all I can picture when I hear this song! Maybe he only did it the once but it stuck in my head as things tend to do!
From here on the band becomes very dance like, lots of beats, very experimental and to be honest, apart from 'Cutt Off', maybe not my cup of tea but definitely still worth exploring. Final track, 'U Boat' has the classic hidden track in it so be aware and keep listening even when its gone quiet! Personally, I adore Serges's vocals on "U Boat'. It haunts me.
Kasabian, since this album have parted ways with former founder Chris Karloff but it has not stopped their rise to the top. The second album was called 'Empire' which to me was the stage above 'Big' and 'Mega', it is far more rock n roll but still has those stomping beats.
The latest album "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum" shows a real physcadelic side to the band that must be influenced by where their heads and partying is at right now...say no more! It’s fantastic and a Mercury Prize nomination but for me this debut will always be my favourite, they exploded on to the scene and seem to be intent on staying here for a long, long time.
Can they fill the space now left by Oasis?
I think so, GET ON IT!
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