It’s a brave band indeed that decides to shake things up a little and try something new, but that’s precisely what British outfit Keane has done on their brand new album ‘Perfect Symmetry’. Free download and lead single ‘Spiralling’ gave fans a taste of what to expect, blending the band’s trademark stadium rock sound with a more electronic pOp sensibility. Second single ‘The Lovers Are Losing’ bursts with familiarity, harking back to Icehouse-esque anthemic ’80s pOp/rock. And it’s that anthemic ’80s pop/rock that seems to define ‘Perfect Symmetry’. ‘You Don’t See Me’ drops the tempo slightly, giving a lyrical nod at the beautiful people of the world who pass the rest of the world by. The tempo doesn’t drop for long, however, as following track ‘Again And Again’ bursts onto the stereo and ‘Playing Again’ does just what it’s lyrics suggest by turning up the volume towards the album’s end. We’re also rather fond of ‘Black Burning Heart’. Although success for this album has been moderate in Australia, ‘Perfect Symmetry’ has provided Keane with a hat-trick of UK No.1 albums, and presents an eclectic bunch of tunes, punctuated by that ’80s pOp sensibility coupled with the bright, brash Brit-pOp the band’s become famous for. As we mentioned, it’s only the brave that will dare to try something a little different with the look and sound of the band – and we’ve got to give big props to the lads from Keane for not resting on their laurels and having the balls to embrace change where other, more established acts might not.
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Keane’s ‘Perfect Symmetry’ is in the shops now.