Knast, The: Reckless Soul

Combining a garage-psych sound to something altogether more Brit-pop focused, Seattle's The Knast are baring their Reckless Soul. If that sounds like a halfway house, then so it proves, slowed down Oasis the order of the day as "Sold Out" wends its way through the melodious drone that took a certain pair of brothers to fame, fortune and fall outs. However, with an eye on an era from long before the Brit rockers reimagined The Beatles, every selection also needs to have something just a little more 'out there' bolted on for good measure. Hence a grating guitar solo and general mid pacedness works as unwelcome counterpoint to what are some sumptuous melodies.

"Side Effect" is a strange choice for opener, especially when the album's title track injects some much needed energy, stepping insistently on the floor as it does so. Instead we get a droning, middle distance gazing grunge meets space rock humdrum that struggles to justify its near six minute length. "Man On The Corner" also shows some intent, the rhythm section of Tascar Wise on bass and Ian Thomas on drums laying it down thick before everything is stripped back, losing the enthusiastically greeted momentum along the way. At times the engagingly exciting twang and bang of The La's is just about brought to mind, but just as the likes of "Out Of Season" gets close to its desired destination, so the 60s fixation drags things back towards the middle of the road; sing along choruses eschewed in favour of naval gazing and the search for the 'authentic'.

If Oasis jamming out some Seattle sounds via a psych bite sounds interesting, then you might get a lot more than the nearly but not quite vibe The Knast have left with me. However, if it's a truly Reckless Soul you're after then you won't find one on what proves to be a safe and steady album that's just too reserved to show its teeth.

Track Listing
1. Side Effects
2. Reckless Soul
3. Situation Vacant
4. Sold Out
5. Here And There
6. Man On The Corner
7. Out Of Season
8. Fight Or Flight
9. Waiting For The Light To Change
10. Time Out Of Mind

Added: December 3rd 2017
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: The Knast on Facebook
Hits: 1792
Language: english

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