Futures - The Karma Album

So more than two years after the release of their debut EP 'The Holiday', completing it over a year ago and dropping their record deal with Mercury records, the quartet from Bucks have finally graced us with their first full length album. What are you saying?

The Karma Album in a whole, heads in a completely different direction in comparison to their old material. Leaving behind the infectious hooks, amazing breakdowns and under produced simplicity that made you double take when listening to them. After heading into the studio with big time producer Gil Norton (Jimmy Eat World, Feeder) although is a once in a lifetime opportunity, could be a decision unwise.

Opening track Start A Fire is the band's first single and is somewhat reminiscent of 2008 Snow Patrol. It's predictable and humdrum structure hinders the impact of the song and the odd guitar hit during the verse can become tiring as it rings on throughout the track. What's so disheartening is that the chorus has so much potential yet it's over production makes it so confined and restricts it from reaching it's pinnacle. Eighth track in the album is a new version of 'The Holiday's' first single'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'. Chucking out all the brilliant aspects of the original out of the window such as the bouncy rhythm, tom filled intro and four chord verse makes this quite a downer of the album.

However all is not doom and gloom as the album has it's highs. Tracks such as single 'Karma Satellite's sentimental piano melody and vocals and it's Coldplay like "Oh-ohhhh" driven sixteen bar bridge just echoes brilliance. 'Indigo' is another highlight in the album. It's tranquil finger plucked rhythm and choir sung backing vocals which then crescendo into an uplifting chorus makes this a definite keeper. Similar serene track is most anticipated 'Million Lights'. It's stripped back production technique replacing what would be guitar
melodies with backing vocals sung like a chorale is definitely a breath of fresh air.

The Karma Album is a good record, don't get me wrong. However, it's not what we all heard when Rocksound released their first EP. Over production doesn't work well for the band and that lies down to Mr Norton's production tekkers. Singing to a major label has seemed to change all that made us fall in love with them. Hopefully from now on, after leaving Mercury, they'll go back to releasing material similar to what we first heard.

6.1

Daniel Mburu