I Am Kloot
Natural History

THE REVIEW

In 2001, a group from Manchester debuts in the music world: they are I Am Kloot. Now, let's not try to find the meaning of the name which is in Dutch, otherwise the most sensitive might get offended. However, "Natural History" is an album that is very much appreciated for its fresh sound, its good music, and especially its excellent musicians. The singer's voice is more drawling than that of Liam Gallagher from Oasis and their sound nods to blues and jazz, not forgetting the foundations of indie-rock though. One of the most frequent nonsense spoken about I Am Kloot is that they are part of the new acoustic movement (see "Kings of Convenience") but it is absolutely not true, because their music is acoustic yes, but more substantial, less shabby, and structurally more complex!

"To You" the opening track welcomes us with well-curated drums, a pulsating bass, and a chorus that would sweep anyone away, "Twist" with its jazz-swing soul and the voice that desperately sings under the notes of a genuinely jazz bass "This blood on your legs... I love you". The musical interlude of "Loch" with those excellent brushstrokes of guitar which in four minutes do not tire in the slightest, quite the opposite! "Dark Star" with its irresistible bahbahbahbahdarara and "Sunlight Hits The Snow" takes us back to idyllic landscapes for less than 3 minutes. How can we not mention also the wonderful "Storm Warning" and "Stop," witnesses of a great blues in the manner of the Beatles (see "I Want You" featured in Abbey Road). A great, beautiful closing then with "Because" which is nothing but a crescendo of music: with a beautiful, extraordinary lyric, it ends like a lit candle then extinguished by rain that suddenly arrives on a sunny day.

There are really few criticisms to be made for this small debut-masterpiece, one of the few is the cover which in my opinion is quite awful but nothing more for this Manchester group that will later gift us with an equally beautiful album (I Am Kloot, 2003) and another released this year (Gods And Monsters, 2005) a bit complex but nonetheless extraordinary.