by Susie Salva
“Konk", the eagerly awaited sophomore album by British rock band the Kooks has been released on Astralwerks Records. “Konk,” is the follow-up effort to their hugely successful 2006 debut, “Inside In/Inside Out", which sold some two million copies worldwide and spawned massive singles, “She Moves In Her Own Way”, “You Don’t Love Me”, “Sofa Songs”, “Eddie’s Gun”, and “Naïve.”
Singer/guitarist Luke, lead guitarist Hugh Harris, bassist Max Rafferty and drummer Paul Garred quickly came to be regarded as a classic British song-writing outfit, able to stand alongside The Kinks, Oasis, Coldplay or any number of others you care to mention, simply because they understand what makes pop music great.
“Konk” is an upbeat, breezy CD exploring universal themes of broken and faulty relationships. Their feel good approach is infectious! “If it doesn’t make you feel good, then what’s the point?” says Luke. “Music should make you happy,” concurs Hugh. “It should change you in some way. That’s why our fans are so crazy and committed. There’s that connection.”
“We give people a great night out,” continues Luke, who’s still only 22. “That’s the whole point. And I probably buzz off the crowd more than they buzz off us. Music’s about getting everyone together. How can you be cynical when you’re at a festival and there’s 20,000 people – all different kinds of people; young, old, black, white – and everyone’s singing the same songs.”
Anyone who’s ever enjoyed pop music or a good night out, has plenty of reason to cheer when it comes to “Konk”, the Kook’s second long-player, recorded over six weeks at the tail end of 2007 in Ray Davies’ Konk Studios in north London, plus a week at Los Angeles Sound Factory. The sessions once again united the group with esteemed producer Tony Hoffer (Beck/Air/The Fratellis). “It was brilliant,” says Luke. “It was like a school reunion. Tony’s a genius; he’s really a talented guy and he’s fun to be around. We had the best time.”
This 12-song CD, “Konk”, offers an array of terrain of music delving into topics of faltering relationships, dealing with fame, making love, and being strong enough to be on your own. While the track entitled, “Gap”, is classic Kooks, and a song like the single, “Shine On” finds Luke exploring hitherto uncharted lyrical territory over the loveliest of melodies. It is destined to become another lynchpin in the Kooks’ live set. “We’ve never done a song like that before,” he says. “A lot of people might think its quite standard, but when you listen to it, it’s not. It’s a really weird tune. I’m pleased with it.”
The first cut, “See The Sun”, probes into the downturn in a relationship where one may view one’s partner on the arm of another person and the sting that lingers. Then there’s “Always Where I Need To Be”, a tumbling rocker with that catchy chorus and the do-do-do, do-do-do refrain that might just be the catchiest thing they’ve ever done. “Stormy Weather” has a thumping bass-line and explores the idea of saying something and not really meaning it. That wanting to take something back something wrongly said. “Sway” meanwhile, provides an early album highlight with a gutsy guitar solo…needing to sway, needing soul, and needing heart. “Sway, is one I always go back to,” says Luke. “Hugh’s guitar solo is genius – I don’t even know how he did it, even though I was there. And obviously the words hold a certain thing for me.”
“Konk” promises to be another stellar CD for the four piece with shows lined-up in places as far as Dubai, Brazil – oh yes, Hawaii, not to say some very special UK venues (“We want to do thinks differently,” says Luke. “Some of those arena venues…who wants to see a band in a tin shed?”) plus a truly magical slot at The Isle of Wight Festival, the outlook for these boys’ 2008 is sunny. “We’ve made a really good album,” concludes Luke. “I love the idea of people putting it on in their bedrooms, then going mental. I hope that everyone puts it on,” he says. “And it makes them feel great.” This disc is definitively one to add to your collection. To check out performance videos please go to: www.thekooks.co.uk or www.myspace.com/thekooks
