Being a child of the 80s, I grew up with bands like Mr Mister and Cutting Crew, and still have something of a soft spot for these bands. They were always infinitely more interesting than Wham! and Culture Club and all the rest, at least to my ear. Perhaps it's because their music felt like it had more depth, and was less image-conscious (although the rolled jacket sleeves may lose me that argument for many people). But it was, of course, acceptable in the 80s.
It's now 2010. Enter Kosmo Kings, and their eponymous debut EP, with five tracks for our listening pleasure. Whaddaya know? 'Where I Belong' begins with some choppy guitars, but they're soon enough replaced by a big chorus, delivered with a complete absence of irony, but similarly without any real stick-in-the throat emotion as compensation. It could be a Mr Mister outtake, after they'd gone off the boil.
'How Could You Do This To Me' bears hints of Manic Street Preachers lite, tempered by a dollop of Snow Patrol. Meanwhile, 'Bright Lights' is an expansive, optimistic-sounding slice of what used to referred to as AOR. The band call it 'alternative, rock, pop.' Tomato / tomato... 'Chasing the Stars' introduces some chiming post rock / indie guitar sounds in the verses, which give way to more big choruses, but the whole 'na-na-na-na-na' section that precedes the guitar solo just sounds like they couldn't be bothered to write another verse.
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It's well produced, intelligently written, and has the potential for hugeness. None of this makes it particularly exciting, though.
http://www.myspace.com/kosmokings
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