Kula Shaker/ 1st Congregational Church Of Eternal Love (And Free Hugs)

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Kula Shaker/ 1st Congregational Church Of Eternal Love (And Free Hugs)

Genre: Rock/ alternative 

Label: StrangeFOLK LLP

Rating: ****

Many Indian rock fans remember British band Kula Shaker for their songs 'Govinda' and 'Tattva', which as their titles suggest, were heavily influenced by Indian spirituality. The later albums used Indian music too, but the overall sound also had influences of late 1960s psychedelic rock, 1970s prog and 1990s Britpop. Frontman Crispian Mills is an amazing songwriter, aided in composition by bassist Alonza Bevan, and the band's albums have always been filled with variety and flashes of genius.

The new release, the interestingly titled 1st Congregational Church Of Eternal Love (And Free Hugs), is a double concept album set in a rural place called Little Sodbury. There's a parishioner welcoming the gathering and the songs are interspersed with mini-sermons laced with humour. The Biblical metaphor of St Michael getting rid of evil is combined with songs about broken relationships, sin, changing societal standards, bittersweet nostalgia and false propaganda.

Musically, the album is an apt tribute to retro-rock, and Crispian's Beatles and The Who influences are pretty obvious. Bassist Bevan, drummer Paul Winterhart and keyboardist Harry Broadbrent provide tight accompaniment thought it's Crispian's vocals and guitars that shine majestically.

The album begins with a short introductory sermon, after which 'I'm Against It' impresses with its jangling guitars and sturdy songwriting. "I don't know what they have to say, it makes no difference anyway, cause I'm against it, whatever it is, I'm against it", sings Crispian.

Though the album has 20 songs, including the spoken interludes, its total length is just about an hour. The styles range from the progressive and anthemic 'The Once And Future King', the Bob Dylan tribute '303 Revisited' and the nursery rhyme-ish 'Farewell Beautiful Dreamer'. 'Don't Forsake Me', which makes reference to Gaura Sacinananda, blends spiritual lines with wild rock guitars, and 'Hometown' is a trip down nostalgia lane.

There are some fabulous tempo changes on '108 Ways To Leave Your Narcissist', which talks of people with negative traits. The country-rock number 'Where Have All The Brave Knights Gone?' talks of how much England has changed, with lines like, "Where is merry England now? She's rolling in her grave, Where is Bonnie Scotland? Naked and ashamed". One traces a George Harrison streak here.

The album closes with 'Bumblebee' which talks of 'one love' - "One love to fight the demons, one love to break the chains". With its smart choruses, it fills you with hope. A short coda invites listeners to a cinema hall, indicating that church service is over.

1st Congregational Church comes six years after the band's previous outing K2. In 26 years since its first release, the group has come out with only six studio albums, having had a lengthy split in the early 2000s. Yet, each of their albums has had its highs. This one is one of their best and most varied, with Crispian as crisp as ever.