Kasabian
Empire

THE REVIEW

The Kasabian are back and they're back with a bang. After the bland and inconclusive self-titled debut, they release "Empire" almost two years later, which I believe has all the credentials to be a masterpiece and above all, to become one.

The first self-titled album wasn't well received here on DeBaser, and I completely agree with the low ratings it received. "Empire" presents itself as an album quite varied, lasts 39 minutes, and gives off a lot of energy while being really well packaged. At least a month ago I listened to the first single, the title track, Empire in fact. I saw the video on the internet. Great video, well done! A very expensive video, featuring the poor Kasabian in a war with a grand finale: Tom Meighan bites the dust with a big gunshot to the head! But as for the song, it wasn't exactly love at first sight. I was careful not to assimilate the song, but gradually it got into my head like a virus and completely captivated me. You should have seen me at night, praying it wouldn't become a silly hit like "l.s.f" (and even earlier with Muse's "Time is running out"), that is, sung in the club or heard on the street by other idiots who whistle it without knowing a thing about Kasabian and especially about music since these people probably live on bread & house (or some other similar crap...).

BUT... that's another story... "Empire" is therefore the album's opener with its slightly danceable rhythms and that bass (in the style of the latest strokes) bouncing here and there, that slightly mystical and somewhat Middle-Eastern atmosphere, thanks to the use of violins, which are used magnificently (not like in a certain recent Muse album where they sound pompous and exaggerated!). "Shoot the runner" breaks the rules of the previous song a bit, resulting in fearsome riffs! The guitar is front and center and doesn't shy away from coming out. "Last trip (in flight)" is the number three! It has typically sixties flavors with its Beatles-style choruses (just remember their reason is treason, also similar to birthday by the Beatles, here come the Fab4 again). "Me plus one" is saved and appreciated only for its soft strings, then comes one of the album's gems: "Sun-Rise-Light-Flies". Here finally, the psychedelia so courted in the last 5 tracks pairs completely with the song's sound, perhaps with a little help from the never forgotten electronics (it could almost be a song by Mercury Rev).

"Apnoea" (what a title!?!?) divides the album in half with its scant 2 minutes. After that come the ghosts of the past, I refer to "By my side", "Stuntman" and "Seek & Destroy"... and don't get me wrong, I'm not at all saying they're to be discarded, but they undeniably recall the songs from the first album: electronic sampling at the forefront and sparse use of guitars. Of these 3, perhaps "Stuntman" is the least tolerable (but maybe that's just my taste, too much electronic for my liking). After the "nostalgic" encounter of the three Hail Marys, we have the second gem of the album: "British Legion", an ACOUSTIC introduction! Kasabian always starts strong in their songs, especially in this album, and listening to this song is a real surprise for the ears, if I may say so! The song is "explicitly" Brit (now I understand why Noel Gallagher "fucking" likes this album!). But dear readers, dear listeners... time to go... unfortunately... the album comes to an end with "The Doberman". Another fairly Brit song, featuring blaring trumpets in the middle of the song with a "Spanish nostalgia" sound. The final explosion of the song then sees a slowdown leading to a slow end with Meighan's almost tormented voice.

Short, direct and strong songs, really strong! An album that might become a real masterpiece over the years, though I'm sure initially it might not be appreciated. But one day... you will see!