aaamusic | On 23, Oct 2011

After being presented with this band and some digging around online the only things I can find out about the band Kenetics is that they are a five-piece band (?) and they’re from Hertfordshire. It is also worth noting that they are a new, unsigned hence the lack of information. But despite the lack of bio they do have plenty of audio floating about online from the usual Myspace to a Youtube channel from what I can is more up-to-date.

Having made my way through the various tracks on Youtube (if the band’s reading this sorry I didn’t have time to listen to them all) but from what I heard I liked.

First song I listened to was ‘Counties’ which seems to the latest track from them. After a slightly Godspeed! You Black Emperor start with a single guitar drenched in reverb arpeggiating away but as soon as the vocals kick in any post-rock hopes disappear and fast. What it turns into a yearning indie anthem somewhere in the vein of the Editors and Arctic Monkeys with it chugging bass and frenetic drums but with guitars that seem to just float over it but soon the track builds to climatic end fit for an indie club sing-a-long. After that this is a promising start.

Next track was ‘Longshore Drift’ is another reverb covered, minor key indie track which again could easily play out well in the clubs. As I don’t wish to repeat myself I feel I’ll have to leave it there. That’s not to suggest they are repetitive but rather they have a ‘sound’ which i’ll come to later.

The last track I want to talk about is ‘Weston’ which dispenses with the drums at the start in favour of a drum machine which gives it a bit more edge as it stomps around the track that by the time the real drums start they almost sound flat by comparison.

The ‘sound’ is still there but with the added swirling guitar or synth (can’t quite tell which one) it gives it an air of euphoria rather than sing-a-long.

I did listen to some more tracks but I chose these three to talk about as I feel they represent the band. From what I heard their thing is reverb, sounds like it been recording in a vast empty room, melancholic indie. As a fan of that kind of thing I liked as in recent months indie music seems to have stagnated slightly or has been taken over by ‘the lads’. So I was glad to hear something different i.e. indie music with atmosphere which also provides the melancholic elements to the track.

All tracks come from a long indie history right back to the 80’s (the birth of modern indie) and the combination of genres afterwards, shoegaze, post-rock and britpop being the main ones. You could argue that it’s not original but what I feel is more important is good tunes which they have. The tunes are catchy, well arranged and you sing-a-long all this makes for a good listen.

The criticism I have with their songs is the lack of dynamic which I why I chose ‘Weston’ to write as that has a dynamic which the others don’t seem to. You spend the time listening them expecting something else to come in. Even the choruses, as good as they are, fall kinda flat and are indistinguishable from the rest of the track. Not to say they should Oasis style football terrace choruses but just a little boost. They can do the quiet bits well but you find yourself waiting for the louder bit that never quite arrives.

The only other criticism is the actually recording themselves which from what I can tell they have done at home. The tracks could maybe do with a bit of polishing up, the mix to be balanced and the tracks be a bit punchy but these are only little tweaks.

Overall they are a very impressive band and in a just they would be signed already but hopefully that day will come soon. No details I could find about live dates but I sure would be an interesting band to check out live but until then get online and give them a listen.

You can check out their Youtube channel here http://www.youtube.com/keneticsmusic

 

Barry Gray