Album Title

Kula Shaker

Pilgrim's Progress (2010)

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First Released

Calendar Icon 2010

Genre

Genre Icon Psychedelic Rock

Mood

Mood Icon Gritty

Style

Style Icon Britpop

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Album Description
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Pilgrims Progress es el cuarto álbum de la banda, publicado el 28 de junio de 2010 en el sello propio Strangefolk Records, una continuación lógica de la independencia que habían iniciado con su regreso.

La producción fue compartida entre la banda y Alonza Bevan, bajista y multiinstrumentista, que asumió un papel crucial en los arreglos. Gran parte del disco se grabó en Estudios Lompret (Bélgica), en un entorno rural que impregnó el carácter campestre y sereno de las canciones, lejos de los grandes estudios urbanos donde habían trabajado antes.

El sonido se aparta de los discos anteriores, aquí prima una atmósfera más acústica, melódica y folk, con toques de psicodelia ligera y un aire pastoral que recuerda al folk británico de los setenta (Fairport Convention, Nick Drake) y al mismo tiempo a la faceta más meditativa de George Harrison. Guitarras acústicas, flautas, cuerdas y armonías vocales generan un clima contemplativo, como si el grupo hubiese encontrado un nuevo tempo tras los excesos y regresos.


La crítica acogió el disco con sorpresa y respeto, aunque no tuvo repercusión masiva, muchos periodistas lo señalaron como el trabajo más cohesionado y maduro del grupo desde K. Se valoró su valentía al abandonar el registro eléctrico y optar por un sonido más íntimo, en un momento en que pocos esperaban algo nuevo de ellos. Comercialmente, fue modesto, pero reforzó su posición como banda de culto, sostenida por un público fiel más que por las listas de ventas.


En su carrera, Pilgrims Progress consolidó la segunda vida de Kula Shaker, les dio legitimidad creativa, mostrando que no vivían solo de la nostalgia noventera. Supuso también el inicio de una etapa donde sus discos se convirtieron en pequeñas piezas de artesanía, ajenas al mainstream, pero muy cuidadas en sonido y concepto.
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User Album Review
A very decent fourth album which might even win them some new fans.

A band that most critics would certainly kick out of bed and quite possibly down the stairs too, Kula Shaker have little to lose in terms of reputation. The band were something of an awkward oddity in their day, sitting cross-legged between surfy honkers Reef and Weller worshippers Ocean Colour Scene in the charts, putting out radio-friendly psychedelic indie and irritating the bejesus out of journalists. Their fourth album (the last was three years ago – don’t you remember?) is blessedly free of the weight of expectation that so burdens others. But is it any good? It’s not bad.

Peter Pan R.I.P. is a pleasant opener – a little twee (with a lower-case T), but agreeable. Ophelia and Only Love are gentle and pretty. Much of the album tends towards the acoustic, and although this is often shorthand for maturity, well, this stuff is mature. Critics loathed Crispian Mills for his earnestness and privilege, but if the earnestness remains there isn’t a great deal of ego apparent.

Kula Shaker were never about forging ahead creatively, to put it politely, and it’s hard to bat away the prominent references that rise like steam from the songs, especially when some hooks sound directly pilfered (All Dressed Up inescapably resembles Long Train Runnin’). There’s a whiff of eau de Dylan about much of it, although there’s also a healthy hint of Badly Drawn Boy.

The mystical elements that made journalists wince when the band were at their popular peak are still in evidence, if more subtle – sitar-esque strings pop up here and there, but there’s nothing approaching Govinda levels. It’s generally inoffensive and often very catchy, and if the band are derivative and musically scattered then they are at least true to themselves.

But Pilgrim’s Progress ends clunkily – the meandering guitar-strangling caterwaul of Winter's Call is apparently meant to serve as a grand majestic finish, but sounds more like session musicians titting about trying to outdo each other in wide-eyed instrumental keening. However, overall it’s a very decent album which might even win them some new fans.


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