Mimi checks out the Leicester boys' new single, album and tour.
Kasabian
Kasabian are back and better then ever! Following the release of previous album '48:13' the Leicester band return with new single "You're In Love With A Psycho" ahead of their hotly anticipated new album. Their comeback has been apparent since announcing headlining appearances at festivals across Europe including Reading/Leeds and Benicassim. Having released dates for a swiftly-approaching intimate UK tour, the announcement has been accompanied by the release of "You're In Love With a Psycho."
The new single gives hints of their typical rebellious sound through a repetitive, hard hitting bass line. Lead singer Tom Meighan's singing on the other hand doesn't seem as intimidating as previously thought, in fact "You're in Love With a Psycho" surprisingly captures a more melodic, mellow and gentle sound which is often apparent in Kasabian's sound. The melody is flawless as is the lyricism, pioneered through the genius mind of Serge Pizzorno. The single has a consistency in sounding slick and they furthermore avoid the sounds of commercialism which may have been apparent in their previous record.
The single will form part of their 6th studio album, 'For Crying Out Loud' to be released 28th April 2017. By pre-ordering the album fans also get the chance to book priority tickets for their intimate UK tour. Following months of teasers and hints from their social media accounts it is clear that Kasabian's return is a certainty. "You're In Love With A Psycho" gives a taste of what is yet to come.
Mimi previews the new album and tour by Alex Turner & Miles Kane's side project.
The Last Shadow Puppets
Suave, poetical and stylish, The Last Shadow Puppets formed by Arctic Monkeys' frontman Alex Turner and former Rascal frontman turned solo artist Miles Kane look set to make a massive comeback in 2016, potentially matching the success of their 2008 debut 'The Age of the Understatement'. That album went straight to No. 1 in the UK album charts and they also won MOJO's 'Breakthrough Artist' award in 2008, Q's 'Best New Act' and the NME's 'Best Video' in 2009.
Despite the duo's grand success, Turner and Kane seemed to go quiet for eight years whilst actually focussing on their respective day-jobs, namely the Arctic Monkeys' spiralling career and Miles Kane's solo albums. While they have been both getting on with their own things there have been all sorts of rumours flying round the industry about a possible comeback, especially when Turner commented, "I think the plan is to release something again, for sure" back in 2013.
However, it was not too a long wait from then when a teaser video was shown on the band's Facebook page in December 2015 which received over over 400K views in support of 'Bad Habits', the duo's first new single since 'My Mistakes Were Made For You' back in 2008. The track has had outstanding response ahead of Turner and Kane's announcement of their new album 'Everything You've Come To Expect" which will be released on April 1st. The band has also announced headline shows in March and April which start in Edinburgh and finish in Los Angeles. Not only have the duo announced some intimate gigs but there are also some follow up dates in bigger venues such as the Castlefield Bowl in Manchester and London's Alexander Palace.
The first in an occasional series of live reviews by Mimi Brock-Stark, who travelled to Manchester Arena to see The Libertines on January 23rd 2016.
The Libertines have made a massive comeback with their new album "Anthem for Doomed Youth", with the four piece British rock'n'roll band embarking on a UK tour which started in Glasgow and ended in London on January 30th. The band also announced two intimate shows, one in London at the Electric Ballroom and one in Manchester at the Ritz. Unfortunately for the fans, these got cancelled due to ever-reliable (!) frontman Pete Doherty suffering from a panic attack. However this only made the audience more enthusiastic for the tour as the tickets for the cancelled shows were subsequently used for the regular tour dates. I went to Manchester Arena to see band and what a show it was, it seemed everyone present was ecstatic thanks to the band's elevated status since reforming in 2010 and signing a new record deal with Virgin EMI in 2014.
The Libertines
Their sound was sensational and brought the crowd alive together. Opening with the first song from their new album, "Barbarians" was enticing because of the few number of times the band have performed it and was a huge crowd pleaser from the off. The show continued with more songs from the album as well as from their self-titled second album and debut "Up The Bracket". During the set Doherty and Carl Barat were interacting with their fans along with the rest of the guys as they normally do, while to reinforce the excitement the crowd rushed to the barriers when the band performed "Boys in The Band". Significantly this was in huge contrast to the romanticised melody of "You're My Waterloo" when the crowd calmed down while still interacting with the band. The show finished with "Don’t Look Back Into The Sun" along with a surprise smoke bomb being lit, the explosion nicely mirroring the end of their second album as well as the tonight's set. They left us all looking forward to a possible fourth Libertines album as well as Pete's rumoured second solo album.
