If the definition of power-pop might be music that captures the jaunty feel of pop delivered with the aplomb of rock and roll, which should be pretty evident from the name, then ‘Isolation,’ the new one from KaiserKillers, is certainly it.
It’s a simple groove, but like all things simple, it has a clever, seductive simplicity that eludes many bands working in this field. As they say, the simplest musical ideas are often the most complex to execute – that this song sounds simple is a testament to how good the band is at its job. It is also not about this groovesome heart as much as what sonic moves and moods they add to it as they skip along. Raw guitars add an abrasive contrast to the original, almost soulful riff; the bass moves into a higher, more melodic gear; six-string salvos squall and squeal around like a distant sonic storm; the vocals are as rhythmic as they are communicative, and through it all the beat is buoyant and unfussy. Boxes ticked and then some!
But perhaps more than that, it marks a neat tangent from the KaiserKiller trail. Last year, songs such as ‘Heavenly In Black’ and ‘Love Conquers All’ saw them erring on the side of scuzzy-guitared, pop-meets-garage-rock. And whilst all their trademark sounds are still present, here they have rejigged things, shifted the sonic emphasis, created more space for the song to breathe, and allowed the prowess of their songcraft to be cast in the spotlight.
I’m not saying this should be a new direction that they would do well to capitalize on, but… no, actually, I am saying that.
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