Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

We’re big fans of Kasabian. We like their swagger, we like their sound. In fact, short of bestowing them with girlish teenage kisses and asking them to sign our tits, we’d say that we are some of their biggest fans. It was with great excitement that we ripped open the jiffy envelope that arrived today and put on the new album. And, on first listen, we’ve got to say – it’s rather good. Well, most of it. Barring the hideous Indian restaurant interludes in ‘West Ryder Silver Bullet’, the album fizzes along with classic Kasabian cocksuredness. Opener ‘Underdog’ blasts forth in typical scuzzy style, its Primal Scream-esque bassline dissected by Tom Meighan’s trademark chantings; ‘Fast Fuse’ boasts an ace sardine tin slapping riff; and ‘Vlad The Impaler’ – the video of which has Noel Fielding mincing about as a vampire slayer (see below) – is a Prodigy-sounding rock anthem that speeds up, slow down and stutters with all the assuredness of a striker who’s just volleyed in the winner from 30 yards. Great stuff.