2014-02-28
The
alternative group Kins' self-titled, debut LP is their first effort following
their move from Melbourne, Australia to the city of Brighton on the south coast
of England. While in Australia,
Kins released a 7-track EP entitled Dancing
Back and Forth Covered In Whipped Cream, growing their fan base. After moving to Brighton, the original
members of Kins, Thomas Savage, vocals and guitar, and Queline Cartwright,
keyboards and vocals, were joined by Rob Walters and Alex Knight, the current
rhythm section. In an industry that focuses on overpowering vocals and clichéd
hooks, KINS, the 10-track album,
makes room for the music. The
album opens with Savage's vocals, which convey longing and menace in their
falsetto whine, alongside a simple, but building electric guitar line in "Pale
Faced Fear." Throughout the album, the electric guitar takes over the melody,
the drums beat down the vocals and the bass guitar drives through the lyrics.
The melody in "Mockasin's" is most often carried by the electric guitar, while
being reinforced by synth from Cartwright's keys. Half-way through "Aimless"
the vocals drop out and do not return, instead melodies are passed between
guitar and keys, at times a trumpet.
The album ends with "Abslurd," lyrically a harsh look at London, but
musically a haunting mesh of sounds.
Richard Martin
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