Tag Archives: myths of the near future

#1400: Klaxons – Totem on the Timeline

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There I was pouring my heart out a couple days ago about the last ever post by a band on the blog, but had I known that the same thing would be happening for Klaxons right after, I probably wouldn’t have bothered. Yeah, it’s the last time you’ll see Klaxons on here too. But including today’s song, I only wrote about four of the group’s tracks. I don’t have as close a personal feeling towards them. But Klaxons were a big thing in their time. It’s something I must have said in the other Klaxons posts, but 2007, that was their year. They were the figureheads of the “new rave” scene that was happening. I remember NME being all over that, highlighting bands like Hadouken!, New Young Pony Club, CSS… and others. I wonder how they’re all doing. Klaxons’ debut Myths of the Near Future was the album everyone was waiting for, myself included, and before it was officially released, NME had the album as an exclusive on their website. I don’t think I ever said anything about that before, but the link is proof. Just have to select “Just albums” and click next, you’ll see ‘Klaxons’ eventually.

And that’s how I got to know ‘Totem on the Timeline’. By the time the album exclusive was up, I was well aware of tunes like ‘Atlantis to Interzone’, ‘Golden Skans’, and ‘Magick’. They’d all been singles in the months prior. Oh, ‘Gravity’s Rainbow’ too. The album begins with ‘Two Receivers’, which is all right, a nice start to everything. But ‘Totem…’ was the first album track that I really got into. The tune has a remarkably simple structure. The second verse is the same as the first, and otherwise it’s all chorus bar a bass guitar-driven instrumental section. Lyrically, it’s a bit of a surreal one. Apart from the refrains where the three vocalists sing about being in Club 18-30 and meeting a number of historical figures, whatever else they’re singing about is anyone’s guess. I don’t mind those kinds of songs. You know those ones that maybe go for more of a feel rather than relying on the substance. I can’t hate it. Maybe others would feel differently.

I guess what I like most about the song is it just sounds like all four members, raw, in a room playing it in one run-through. Maybe there’s a vocal overdub, probably that falsetto one, but I think that would be it. Probably the most straight-up rock tune on the first half of the album, with a little keyboard on top. I dig the ascending / descending guitar riff that the vocal melody almost follows too. Now, like I said earlier, because of the way ‘Totem…”s structured, once you’ve heard the first verse and chorus, you’ve more or less heard the rest of the track. To anyone who likes a little variety in their favourite songs, I’m just saying. But this is my blog. I can take a dense song from time to time. And other times, a repetitive number will do the trick. ‘Totem…’ ticks that box for me. So, thanks Klaxons. 2007 was definitely a time to be alive. Never did get round to listening to their second or third albums. I should get to them one of these days.

#653: Klaxons – It’s Not Over Yet

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Klaxons were a big thing in UK music in 2007. They, alongside other British acts like Late of the Pier, New Young Pony Club and Hadouken!, were part of the ‘new rave’ craze that died quite quickly before it gained major traction. In those few years though Klaxons were seen as the major representatives of that movement. At least by the NME which a twelve-year-old me was really into at the time. A lot of those groups do sound dated today… even Klaxons themselves. But this cover of Grace’s dance hit from 1995 I could listen to a lot of the time without being reminded of my first year in secondary school.

‘It’s Not Over Yet’ appears on Klaxons’ debut album Myths of the Near Future and was released as the penultimate single from it in 2007. The group stay quite true to the original 90s cut. The vocal melody stays the same, the chord changes and all that jazz. They change one note out of the main four note synthesizer refrain though. Really, the main thing they change is the arrangement – giving the track a rockier edge with some heavy drumming and thick bass.

Is it the greatest cover ever? Probably not. But they succeed in taking what was great about the original whilst still making it their own thing. That’s what all the best covers do. And I like it. Hence why this post exists.

My iPod #471: Klaxons – Gravity’s Rainbow

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Pre-album version

Album version

“Gravity’s Rainbow” was Klaxons’ first ever single released in early 2006. After the arrival of their debut album in January of the following year the song was released again; not as the rough version that I had become much acquainted with by that point but as the version that appears on Myths of the Near Future, with an updated video and everything.

Taking its name from a Thomas Pynchon novel, the track is a love song but with some sort of space/time travelling twist put on it. The lyrics sound as if they are randomly put together, though filled with many references concerning exotic locations, time, and mythical characters which all lead to the uplifting and inviting chorus you’ll be able to decipher just what the song’s going on about after a few listens. Led by dainty piano riffs mixed with warping guitar fills “Gravity’s Rainbow” sounds like a dangerous ride with the space-time continuum. A thrilling ride, but one that assures you that everything will be alright in the end.

One other thing, the title isn’t actually sung in the lyrics. It is, however, in one of the verses of “Atlantis to Interzone“. Take from that what you want.

My iPod #52: Klaxons – Atlantis to Interzone

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If Arctic Monkeys were the newest and biggest thing in 2006, then Klaxons can definitely take that title for 2007.

The band was immensely hyped up during the latter stages of the former year, and arguably the one that started the ‘new rave’ genre which a whole load of other bands were soon labelled as. That whole thing died out around 2008.

The video for ‘Atlantis to Interzone’ first appeared on MTV2 in 2006. It was released as the band’s official single in June, and it was one of the reasons why I got excited over them, and understood what is was that made the NME express so much praise about them.

The flashing lights, the use of the samples from a standard Casio keyboard that I’ve used when I was doing music in Key Stage 3 and the calm, singalong verses that are contrasted with the shouted out chorus. The video is almost seizure-inducing, especially watching it with all the lights off in the house.

But that just made it so much cooler. My sister and I watched it whenever it came on, and she loved it too. You just want to dance and bust out the robot during the verses, and then when the chorus comes just start doing whatever the fuck you want to do. It’s great stuff.

The album it’s on, ‘Myths of the Near Future’, was released in the first month of 2007, and loads of people liked it. I have it, so I can agree with them.

Until next time.

Jamie.