THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Known for a sound which defined indie in the 2000s, The Kooks return with their new album Never / Know. Now helmed by the two original members — lead singer Luke Pritchard and guitarist Hugh Harris — the band have never stopped evolving, transitioning from indie rock to synthpop and krautrock influences while growing their global audience to what it is today.
The 11-track Never / Know, produced by Pritchard, was born out of a mission to reconnect with The Kooks’ original creative drive. Pritchard elaborates: “It’s not about going back to the first album’s sound, but to the roots of our influences and asking, ‘What is the identity of this band?’ The whole thing was to just forget that the past had happened.” But to truly move forward, they had to reflect: “What kind of music do we want to make, and how do we make it feel natural?”
Never / Know spotlights some of Pritchard’s most simple, yet expressive lyrics to date. The songs are filled with witty one-liners and endearing nicknames for his children and loved ones, which resonate on the surface, yet carry a deeper, more personal significance. Sonically, an intoxicating cover of Paul McCartney and Wings’ Arrow Through Me is the clearest indication of the band’s influence, while the album’s closer, the moody Talk About It displays an appreciation for classic soul.
Never / Know is the latest instalment in an impressive CV that includes their No. 1 U.K. album Konk, an additional trio of U.K. Top 10 albums, plus three U.K. Top 10 singles, two BRIT nominations and an MTV Best U.K. Act Award. Their 2006 debut album Inside In / Inside Out sold over two million copies, reaching quadruple platinum status in the U.K.”
