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Let me ask you a question, if a band like Kosheen had outdone themselves the first time, what could we possibly expect from their second album? Kokopelli marks the next step in their evolution.
Being a fan of the Kosheen phenomenon, I was one of many that were anticipating another breakthrough. Come late August, and I was finally given the chance to peer further into the minds of band members Darren Beale, Mark Morrison and Sian Evans. What I got was a pleasant surprise, which took me back to their first album, Resist.
What is noticed about Kokopelli when you switch on to the first track, is the once known drum and bass signature sound is now replaced by more electronic / alternative style rock. I was not disappointed by this discovery as I had much preferred the second half of it’s predecessor, being more laid back, and certainly more alternative.
The opening track, Wasting My Time, very much sets the mood for the entire album; dark, funky and melodic. The standard of the track is finally set with Sian’s lead vocal being what I call, ‘strong and seductive’. I fell straight into the song, trying to pick out where it may be best played. What came up was definitely a huge concert crowd, arms up in the air, singing along to every line.
With a new album, an artist will always pick one track to act as the pulling power. All In My Head is the perfect choice, standing out as the most upbeat track of the bunch. The guitar riffs take the song to new levels, creating a unique sound for the band, and once again the domination is overwhelmed by Sian’s rhyming lyrics being an easy catch on the radio waves.
I have to give a special mention to the lead vocalist, as she knows how to incorporate her own voice to the song, fusing two different aspects of a track into one. Sian can also keep her words easy to catch on, and this strength can easily bring heaps of listeners on board for the ride.
Fast forwarding through to two of my personal favourites, Blue Eyed Boy and Coming Home, the band keeps a chilled tone that fills a comfortable lounge room perfectly. Both tracks differ from each other, one with more electronic samples, picking up the vibe to be a little harder, and the other going towards more traditional styles, bringing down the mood to a calm and relaxed state of mind. I think that these two tracks in particular display a lot of what the rest of the CD offers, and could be remixed into great dance tracks.
What makes Kokopelli a winner is the unique variety that the album offers when you decide to listen intently and this offering is further enhanced by the individual tracks complementing into a single flow when played as an ambient background sound.
Finally (and definitely not in the least repect), Kokopelli has the ability to take a listener on a shifted journey through hard and soft moods, leaving with an elegant finale that asks the original question left from the first album, ‘Where do we go from here?’ Time will only tell, and I’m sure that Kosheen will know where they are headed.
