Kings Kaleidoscope - Live In Color

Published Tuesday 19th August 2014
Kings Kaleidoscope - Live In Color
Kings Kaleidoscope - Live In Color

STYLE: Pop
RATING 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 150760-21982
LABEL: Independent
FORMAT: CD EP
ITEMS: 1
RELEASE DATE: 2014-03-18

Reviewed by Paul Keeble

Kings Kaleidoscope are a band based at America's much talked about Mars Hill church. The album sounds like it has been recorded as live which gives it a nice edge - unusual for American praise-and-worship recordings, but very welcome as it has an energy that can often be slicko-produced out of albums. The band includes a string section and horns, and there is a retro feel which takes me back (a long way back) to the fondly-remembered Liberation Suite (flute on "Higher Throne" and "Felix Culpa" even features a trombone solo!). Opener "Felix Culpa", built around a nice guitar figure, and second track "Seek The Kingdom" are up tempo and third cut "Defender" has a controlled frenzy that reminds me of Arcade Fire. "Fix My Eyes" then brings a nice change of pace with pizzicato strings and is followed by a cover of "Be Thou My Vision" which starts slow and builds into another Arcade Fire-like kitchen-sink-everyone-go-for-it finish. The sudden end didn't work for me though. Closer "Higher Throne" is another slower song which builds with a lovely flute riff and big drums before dropping back to a sparse ending. Musically this is a strong set of songs and a refreshing change to the sub-Delirious?/U2 sound of so many praise and worship recordings. The playing is good and tight and the lead singer has a great voice. Lyrically it's a shame that nothing in the other five songs really comes close to the brilliance of "Be Thou My Vision", sticking instead mostly to another recycling of the usual stock phrases.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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