The ideas might not be as original as they used to be but the combination of fresh production and Britpop heritage is continuing the renaissance of former musical big guns. Kula Shaker's On the Highway is the first new release in seven years and is a pretty good return to form.
The track takes advantage of the psychedelic style and Eastern touches the band monopolized in the mid nineties but remains a very pop sounding record. Crispian Mills provides a passionate vocal but it isn't as enigmatic as it used to be, in fact, it's a little flat and dissolves into the background too readily.
The music is seductive enough and allows you to lose yourself in the moment. The ironic problem is that for a possibly perfect road trip anthem you don't really go anywhere. The forced sadness of the lyrics rings a little hollow next to the confident guitar and bass lines. Overall the suppositions offered are a little hyperbolic and despite an interesting first listen, scratch the surface and there's just a lot of huff, puff and guff.
