Klaxons / Surfing The Void: Track By Track

Artrocker.TV had the pleasure of scribbling notes on a couch while a massive computer blasted the new Klaxons record at us yesterday. And y'know what? It was pretty damn tasty.

From what we can tell, Surfing The Void is neither the back-to-basics garage rock record anticipated by some, or the massive wedge of dung anticipated by others. Truth be told, if anything it sounds like the group's first album, albeit with an arsenal of new 3D effects, choruses and conceptial weirdness.

Enough bleeting then, and let's take a trip through Surfing The Void, track by track...

1. ECHOES

From the off the album sounds like it was designed for open-air events: the melodies are dark but the drums are agile, suggesting a peripheral danger - and the necessity to run the f*** away from said danger.

2. SAME SPACE

Harpooned by a funky bassline and swirling atmospherics, this track introduces the transcendental/spiritual aspect of the record: "We share the same space" goes the lyric, "we feel the same impact on arrival / and a grace."

3. SURFING THE VOID

The title track has a lightness of touch thanks to some kinky falsetto vocals, although it gradually descends into a chaotic, panic-stricken finale. Based around the lyric "turning myself away from the future".

4. CALM TREES

Things speed up, but the widescreen production keeps those open-air festies in mind. Features a superheroic chorus that almost borders on Flash Gorden territory.

5. VENUSIA

Don't bet against this being a future single: the combination of disco beats and cathedral keyboards almost recall Crystal Castles' 'Celestica' while the vocals stretch that spiritual third eye ("I see your conversation giving energy to me")

6. EXTRA ASTRONOMICAL

A space commander-style vocal leads us into this track, which is Klaxons in proper wig-out mode. It sounds like the studio's exploding behind them as they dive out of it, Die Hard stylee.

7. TWIN FLAMES

Another potential single here. This one rides a catchy, almost two-step beat, with a question and answer vocal style. Spiritual rant sample: "Two flames in our hearts / when we move together... instant synchrocise".

8. FLASH OVER

We know this already, though it's worth mentioning two things; firstly, it's quite pop structured compared to the rest of the record, secondly if you like this... you'll like Surfing The Void. Perhaps obviously!

9. FUTURE MEMORIES

Very Blade Runner title, huh? And appropriately enough, this song sounds both futuristic and melancholy - it's not unlike Muse in the way its melodies evolve. One of the best songs on the record.

10. CYPHERSPEED

Rather like 'Surfing The Void' and 'Extra Astronomical', this is the sound of everything collapsing around you, a sort of grand science fiction apocalypse. An operatic outro leads to drum implosions, noise meltdown and a voice that repeats: "transformations.... transformations..."