Album Review: Kasabian, Happenings

Musicians often say that their current album is a reaction to the one that came before and that’s definitely true of Kasabian’s latest. Two years on from the sprawling, ideas-stacked The Alchemist’s Euphoria, the Leicester four-piece have made another sharp left turn, adopting a less-is-more ethos for eighth opus Happenings.

The album is twenty-six minutes long and features 10 tracks, making it Ramones-like in its brilliant brevity. Band leader Serge Pizzorno’s ambition this time around was to create “super tight big tunes” – and the record delivers in spades. His second album as the band's lead singer, Happenings is full of hope and hooks. It's also brimming with genre-fluid songs that could soundtrack – variously – the dancefloors of Ibiza and the mosh pits of modern-day Donington. It’s a loud and proud party record and all the better for it.

‘Darkest Lullaby’ kicks off the album with a bang - it’s a brilliant and frankly bonkers mash-up of indie, ‘90s house and Boney M (yes, really). Elsewhere, ‘How Far Will You Go’ sees them turn the amps up to 11 to deliver a scintillating‘Song 2’-style pogo fest; ‘Bird In A Cage’ draws on Prince’s trademark brand of filthy funk; and the hip hop and dance-fuelled ‘Call’ is one of their catchiest ever efforts.

And that’s just for starters. Heaving with future set staples, Happenings is a welcome shock to the system. Kasabian are back where they belong – centre-stage.

8/10

Out now on Columbia Records. Listen/order here.