KLAXONS - Surfing the Void

There is something totally compelling about Klaxons. I don't know what but whatever it is, it has kept me sporadically checking their website over the last few years to see what the hell was going on. Usually I wouldn't care and would let such a band slip into the void.

Surfing the Void, Klaxons long awaited second album seems to have taken an eternity to complete. Apparently the album was pulled by their label on a number of occasions, which blows. I can see why, even now there are no perfect pop songs like you can find on their debut Myths of the Near Future.

There are some great ideas knocking around on this album, specifically the bass and guitar work. The bass tone on this album is superb, top end heavy and totally agressive and tense. The vocals and random lyrics, that sound like they were a bunch of words picked out of a hat really let this album down. The opening track and their current single Echoes is the standout track to Surfing the Void but tracks like Venusia and Flashover are worth a listen to.

For the record I'm a total fan of cats and astronauts for that matter and therefore totally dig the album cover. Weirdly the songs match up to the artwork. Think cats in space, playing heavy dirty distorted bass riffs and messed up guitar and keys.

Worth a listen. 3/5 smoldering vultures.