Release Date: 5th July 2024
Coming back to infiltrate every part of your mind, everyone’s favourite genre-defying band Enter Shikari have decided that 2023’s UK album chart-topping A Kiss For The Whole World isn’t done just yet. A tad over a year since it sent shockwaves through their fans, some delirious with excitement over another new vibe, some taking a little longer to come around (plus some who are were never going to be happy), a companion album is here. Containing songs previously not available in physical format, Shikari Sound System reimagined tracks and a handful of recordings from their BBC Radio Future Sounds session, there’s someone for even the most ardent fan here.
Smartly starting with A Shikari Sound System take on ‘Goldfish’ followed by ‘Bloodshot’, this is where most of the love will be found. Rou Reynolds is widely regarded as one of, if not the, greatest lyricist in alternative music since the turn of the century, but ‘Goldfish’ takes the time to show off his other talents. The first fifteen seconds of Dancing On The Frontline will have the impatient crowd wondering what’s new. Those who were at Wembley or the other venues tackled on their tour earlier this year know what’s coming though. That giant fish, those vacant eyes and the undeniable impulse to lose your shit in a way that only music can make you. ‘Bloodshot’ then puts your sound system to the test. The bass hits hard at the bottom end, the beat hits high at the other, we’re barely two tracks in but it is clear that few bands can conjure energy like this Shikari boys.
What follows is a journey through the twelve months since A Kiss For The Whole World. Kicking off with the ever-present Wargasm on ‘The Void Stares Back’. A song that needed no alterations in the first place, the utter chaos that Milkie Way and Sam Matlock bring is the perfect accompaniment to the cleanliness of Reynolds’ on this otherworldly track. ‘Bull’ with Cody Frost, doesn’t quite hit the same level of disruption as others on the album, it is more danceable and the lyrics in the chorus are proper earworms. What seemed to be the most underappreciated collaboration follows with ‘STRANGERS’ featuring AViVA. Sonically uplifting, lyrically intriguing and with a chorus as big as anything released recently, this could be the time and place for ‘STRANGERS’ to explode. The final collaboration track needs no such time though, with ‘Losing My Grip’, featuring Fever 333’s Jason Aalon Butler, just oozing charisma alongside its existential crisis. Quite the juxtaposition.
The BBC Radio Future Sounds session tracks that make up the final five songs take us in a new direction, exposing the band to the reality of live music without a crowd to bounce off. Something that is taken, as expected, in stride. ‘It Hurts’ makes a welcome appearance with Reynolds’ range of vocals being called into use. Heartfelt spoken sections, squeaky cleans and harsher sections all come together with the help of some backing vocals from Chris Batten. Similarly, ‘Bull’ showcases Cody Frost’s talents in full. Both tracks are effortlessly raw and if there’s anyone on the fence when it comes to seeing the band live, should tip them over with ease. If there is anyone left on the fence though, their stubbornness though be tested to full as ‘(pls) set me on fire’ joins BBC Radio One Rock Show session versions of ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’ and ‘Bloodshot’. The inclusion of the recent album’s title track, ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’, being a welcome one. Desperate and adrenaline fuelling, the emotion of the track is still brought through into what is a unique live setting.
So there we are. We truly are just swimming in Shikari’s bowl. New tracks reimagined, collaborations brought together at last and some stripped back. The hardworking St. Albans lads just can’t stop delivering. Still though, if we’re giving the people what they want, where is that Pendulum collab for ‘Sorry, You’re Not A Winner’?! Come on Rou, please! Pretty please?!
Oh, did we mention? Enter Shikari are doing an intimate UK tour later in 2024. Get remaining tickets while you can!
