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Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future Album Cover
Author's Rating
Vocals 7.25
Musicianship 7.75
Lyrics 6.5
Production 7.75
Creativity 7.75
Lasting Value 8.5
Reviewer Tilt 7.75
Final Verdict: 76%
Member Ratings   
Vocals 9.42
Musicianship 9.67
Lyrics 9.5
Production 9.42
Creativity 9.33
Lasting Value 9.42
Reviewer Tilt 9.17
Average: 94%
Inside AP.net

Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future

Reviewed by: Greg Dona (02/08/07)
Sometimes bands get too hip and trendy for their own good. Critics and press flock to either their intensely enjoyed sound or remarkably flamboyant style to take note of the group’s oddities. Readers learn of the supposedly rare characteristics of their new favorite artist. However, soon writers finalize their invasion of privacy by thieving the band’s uniqueness and pigeonholing them with a newfound genre.

Such a process materialized to accompany the blossoming popularity of young English act Klaxons. Equal parts indie and dance with a hint of rave, media forces struggled to put their finger on a simple, generalizing label to categorize the crew with. Thus the new rave bandwagon entered the musical world.

Klaxons lead off their debut album with a deceivingly dark, mysterious introduction. Rumbling, snowballing drums build an unbearable tension, which, immediately before fully losing the listener’s attention, give way to a hauntingly high-pitched set of airy vocals. Repressed percussion and repetitive keyboard contributions shift the focus from the lively aspects of Klaxons to a more sober style.

An initial shout of “DJ!” over a blaring siren on the ensuing “Atlantis to Interzone” quickly terminates such meditative states. Here only a collective chant yields even the slightest ominous aura. Instead pounding, persistent drum work lends to the frantic, uncontrolled atmosphere radiating from the tune’s core. It’s abrupt tempo shifts shock listeners out of even the most moderate paralysis, awakening them to the detailed swings of the jam. The following track seems less like an individual work than an elongated transition from one racing section to another. Although an enjoyable listen on its own, tension gradually develops throughout. Therefore the listener inevitably anxiously awaits its release, the turning point at which this buildup of palpable potential energy flies into action as kinetic auditory energy; this prediction manifests itself on the following “Totem on the Timeline.” The jam chugs with fuzzy guitars and distorted vocals to give a distinctly raw, rushed feel to the track. This proves Klaxons’ strength, and they return to it soon again on both “Gravity’s Rainbow,” a slightly less accelerated tune, and “Magick,” one of the disc’s singles boasting unreasonable amounts of gang singing and synthetic work. Much as its title suggests, the effort presents its fans with deceitful turns such as silencing itself before eagerly returning at full force.

Yet perhaps the penultimate tune on the album best engages the group’s fans. The same persistent synth and hollow, dehydrated vocals grace the song as in other efforts, but here we see all elements of Klaxons in one piece. The group brings the aforementioned staples of their sound to combine with the other frequently visited aspects such as strength in numbers singing, a propensity to toy with pace, and marginally malefic tones. These blend to create the ideal Klaxons accent.

Though highly impressive, no debut fell-length manages to grace the Promised Land of flawless records. Repetitiveness marks the main roadblock for these young men. First and foremost, their singing eventually wears on listeners. Though enjoyable for some time, the airy vibe of such falsetto pitches grows tiresome. The lyrics, hardly outstanding to start with, eventually annoy observing parties as well. These mark the two preliminary setbacks restraining an otherwise unbelievably strong freshman release.

Klaxons bring a top-notch effort to the table with their Myths of the Near Future. They afford a dance vibe so contagious to audiophiles that even the word “infectious” fails to encompass the gripping nature of their rockers. But the main drawback to Klaxons? That would have to be the title new rave.
 
Displaying posts 1 - 12 of 12.
01:30 PM on 02/08/07
#2
matt_rawlings
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One of the most overhyped bands in the UK
01:35 PM on 02/08/07
#3
Greg Dona
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Originally Posted by matt_rawlings
One of the most overhyped bands in the UK
They're pretty good. I like the CD, and I think they'll get a ton better with their next one. I'm going to Scotland over spring break. Oh yea...
02:06 PM on 02/08/07
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naphtha74
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Originally Posted by Greg Dona
They're pretty good. I like the CD, and I think they'll get a ton better with their next one. I'm going to Scotland over spring break. Oh yea...

you know it'll be cold right? like every day...
I cannot get into the Klaxons but 'Golden Skans' is hella catchy

e ooh e ooh e ooh..AAHH
03:08 PM on 02/08/07
#5
Tyler Revolution
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I'm gonna check this out.
03:46 PM on 02/08/07
#6
3GunGaz
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Originally Posted by naphtha74
e ooh e ooh e ooh..AAHH

Haha that is ace

Weirdly enough hype usually puts me off bands A LOT..

Arctic Monkeys.. so hyped up.. so overplayed I couldn't listen to their singles, really didn't like them... then I was sitting in a pub t'other day and one of their non-single album tracks came on.. really liked it.

Klaxons however... I dunno, maybe I just haven't noticed the hype, don't really listen to the radio (thank god for the iTrip), seen them here and there on various websites but got into them from gigs about a year or 2 ago I think.... If my memory serves me well haha

Absolutely love them.. I was looking forward to this album for AGES.. and it.. KIND OF didn't disappoint. I think maybe I haven't given it a good enough listen yet, but I think all the old tracks still stand out.. Golden Skans / Magick / Atlantis (if that IS on the album haha, off the top of my head).. Love the cover of Not Over Yet too.. They've done the re-done tracks justice, Totem / Not Over Yet etc.. they sound great. Golden Skans is one hell of a single.

I don't think by any standards it's a bad album.. and I think in time I'll count it as a great album... This is valid input honest :| haha

Everyone should check out Cansei de ser Sexy too..

These "new" raves are a bit different... but hey... long live raves haha
03:55 PM on 02/08/07
#7
SaintSimon
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the band actualy came up with the 'new rave' label themselves, not the media.
03:56 PM on 02/08/07
#8
Greg Dona
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Originally Posted by naphtha74
you know it'll be cold right? like every day...
Yea, but I'm in New Hampshire right now so I'm sure it'll seem warm o me.

Originally Posted by 3GunGaz
Everyone should check out Cansei de ser Sexy too..

These "new" raves are a bit different... but hey... long live raves haha
They're seriously one of my favorite bands. I'm loving their CD. What other similar groups do you like?
07:25 PM on 02/08/07
#9
From: Skulls
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CSS is great

theyre one of my must sees at coachella this year
05:40 PM on 05/29/07
julia_bagulia
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I will agree, the lyrics are a tad annoying after awhile. And they also don't make very much sense, which usually annoys me.

However, it's so catchy, I just can't resist it!
12:13 AM on 11/26/07
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my new soundtrack for the summer :]
12:24 PM on 07/24/10
eatbabiesyum
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love these guys, new album soon :D
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