The Kaves - Prevalent (self-released)

It isn’t as if the formula is a guarded secret; it’s just that The Kaves seem to understand it better than most. At a point where the weight of rock meets the more melodic tones of indie, there is a sweet point, one that is found at the heart of many successful bands in this field, from Arctic Monkeys to Bloc Party to Kasabian and perhaps, given they share a home town, I should mention Franz Ferdinand too.

Like those mentioned above, “Prevalent” demonstrates that The Kaves fully understand that if you mix the two, creating a blend of muscle and melody, groove and grit, you find yourself in the best of both worlds. But it isn’t quite that simple; you first need to avoid the baggage that those genre’s baggage, such as rock’s cliche and self-aggrandizement and indie’s often “cooler-than-thou” aloofness, which, again, they swerve easily.

And, of course, it always sweetens the deal if you can throw in some killer riffs and pop awareness; again, boxes both ticked without too much fuss.

“Prevalent” is a chart-ready slice of music. One with enough punch to offer a great alternative to the dance routine-driven dross that is usually found clogging up the mainstream but addictive enough that it could slide in like a sonic trojan horse, sneaking past the self-imposed gatekeepers and their narrow-minded attitudes.

Yes, The Kaves, in general, and “Prevalent,” in particular, are just what we have been waiting for.

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