Kassidy - Night In The Box

In light of the fact that my good friends, Kassidy, are releasing their brand new Rubbergum EP next week (through Vertigo Records, and available in HMV and other record stores of fine repute, by the way), I've decided to warm you all up by weighing in on the hype with this little review of Kassidy's most recent single, Night In The Box.

The single's A-Side kicks off with an acoustic guitar riff, slightly reminiscent of a classic Eagles of Death Metal track from back in the day. A possible influence? I actually hope so! Other obvious influences on this track could include The Byrds, whose jangly lead guitars can be heard throughout the track, not forgetting the obvious Crosby, Stills & Nash vocal work, culminating in some of the most beautiful 4-part harmonies you're like to hear in pop today. The track features (and I use the term loosely) a rather underplayed rhythm, consisting mostly of a bass drum and handclaps, while the guitars present the lion's share of the track's driving folk rhythms. The song's vocals, simultaneously hook-laden yet melodically simple, are instantly recognisable and, most impressively, hummable after only a few spins.

The B-Side, the more folk-driven The Traveller, at first gave me the impression that it would be a prime candidate for a disco remix. The key elements are there: the hooky guitar licks; the steady, danceable rhythm; the fantastically repeating chant-of-a-chorus, “this is where I wanna be”... all the elements of a dancefloor classic (even I, a chronic non-dancer, couldn't resist a slight shimmy on my first listening). The song build throughout into a gorgeous crescendo of voices and guitars, with the final chorus driving home that signature pounding rhythm that makes a Kassidy song instantly discernible from other folk rock chancers, and instantly dying out into it's a cappella outro, reinforcing the chorus's vocal hook.

With their new EP out next Monday, followed by a national tour and a support slot with Noah and The Whale in London all before the end of March, this year's looking to be a busy one for our folk rock quartet. It is with a sense of fanboyish glee that I await the release of the band's debut EP, which, if this single is anything to go by, will kick ass and take names!

Kassidy's Night In The Box single is available now from iTunes. The Rubbergum EP is out Monday 8^th February, and is available from selected independent record stores and HMV in Scotland, as well as online. For more information check out their myspace, or follow @kassidyuk on twitter.