The title, Kept It Alive, suggested to me a boast following the capture of a wild beast. It turns out this London four-piece are more interested in capturing the sound of Wild Beasts, than trapping local wildlife and preserving it to maintain boasting rights. This is A Good Thing, on more than one level. 

Tim Sheinman’s vocals are a thing of beauty. They dance around these two songs playfully. Just when you think you’ve got a grip on them, they dart out of your clumsy grasp. Kept It Alive is built on shimmering sands. You’re never quite sure where it’s going to take you. There are atmospheric electronics, a funky bass and a hint of house piano. There’s a strong chorus built around the line, ‘I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, you’ve never looked as lovely as you did in the rain.’ The track picks up the pace as it goes along, building to an effective crescendo.

Thom Hosken’s beats comes to the fore during the six minute To The River. There’s a late night melancholy that conjures the kindly spectre of The Blue Nile. The song isn’t quite a cohesive as Kept It Alive. It seems on the verge of chaos, but that makes for an exciting listen too. This track swells like the sea, threatening to throw the listener to Scylla or Charybdis. Best grab onto that cheesy 80s synth solo as it passes. At least it proves one can be anthemic and epic, without sounding like U2. 

It’s still early days for Look, Stranger! but the wealth of ideas – and the way they are fused together – suggests they are a band to watch, as long as you are a listener with refined tastes and a tolerance for whimsy.

Author: Stuart Moses