Kaiser Chiefs remain to this date one of the bands that did best out of the immense explosion of indie acts that began in 2004. Four albums in though, and they teeter on a precipice of what to do next. Sales of their third LP Off With Their Heads were disappointing compared to previous fare.
So, in one of the most inventive moves of this year, they released a kind of pic n mix version of their new album on their website - fans could choose their own selection of tracks, creating their own unique running own.
It grabbed the attention of the music press, and it seemed to please fans - certainly, the band looked to have gone down a treat at Glastonbury.
Lead single Little Shocks (if a record released in such a manner can even have a 'lead single') didn't hold much water with me though, it felt like rather a retread of previous material. No, if there's a real gem to be found in the Kaiser's latest effort then it is Starts With Nothing.
At five and a half minutes long, it sees the band breaking out into broader, bigger, more experimental territory. Indeed, the first time I heard the track I wasn't even sure if it was the Kaiser Chiefs. But my attention was piqued though, as Starts With Nothing is actually brilliant; by far the best thing the band have put out since their debut album.
Full of sprawling 80s sounds, it touches on vast swathes of guitar and electronics to deliver something akin to Duran Duran's classic Is There Something I Should Know? - The 'yes that is my final answer' refrain is particularly Duran. In short though, the whole track is brilliant.
