Kaiser Chiefs seek sound shake-up

By Ian Youngs
Music reporter, BBC News

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The Kaiser Chiefs play new song You Want History at T In The Park

When Kaiser Chiefs singer Ricky Wilson says the band's new album is "weird and fresh and radical", he could be preparing us for their freestyle techno folk phase.

The band want to set themselves apart from the indie crowd, Wilson says, and do something that sounds different from the groups that have followed their trail.

"When we first started, there weren't any bands that sounded like us because we were a bit different," says songwriter and drummer Nick Hodgson.

After they emerged in 2004, the Kaisers helped open the gates for a glut of identikit indie groups to get into the charts, Hodgson believes.

"There's millions of bands that can get into the top 10 now. And at the time it was impossible to get into the top 10.

"So we wanted to lead the way again and not follow."

So what is the Kaiser Chiefs' new direction?

It was supposed to sound quick and off the cuff and happy and upbeat and wide Nick Hodgson

They have previewed a few new songs at gigs and festivals, and the change seems to be more of a more relaxation in their approach than a radical new sound.

"It sounds like the sun's shining, it's the afternoon and you're getting ready to go out disco dancing," Wilson explains.

"It's definitely upbeat and happy and sounds natural," his bandmate continues.

"We recorded it in London, it was sunny and we wrote stuff extremely quickly. Hopefully it sounds like how it was made, and it was supposed to sound quick and off the cuff and happy and upbeat and wide.

"And we've travelled everywhere in the world as well. You can't help but want to expand your sound."

The Kaiser Chiefs have road-tested new material at summer festivals

The sound of Kaiser Chiefs 2.0 includes "a lot more vocals, more stacks of vocals and not just one direct voice", he adds.

And Never Miss A Beat, the first single from the new album, adds more guitars to their new-found wall of sound.

But Kaisers fans should not fear being left behind. "It's definitely us," Hodgson adds. So the techno folk will have to wait.

A third album is an important milestone, the drummer says. "Make or break. It's a dealbreaker.

"We wanted to be happy with what we were doing and not sound like… there's a lot of Radio 1 indie and it all sounds pretty similar," he explains.

The band obviously want to be seen to be standing out from the masses.

"Indie bands are big, so a lot of record companies are pushing indie bands and going: 'We've got one and they dress in vests…'" says Wilson.

"…and straw hats with holes in," continues his cohort. "Not the Kooks. We like The Kooks."

He may or may not mean it. There is a glint in his eye.

We've noticed that [other bands] didn't seem to be enjoying themselves on their new records Ricky Wilson

Wilson and Hodgson clearly share the same humour and mindset, with each pause quickly filled by the other bandmate jumping in to finish the sentence.

"That indie by numbers is boring," Wilson says.

"It's very, very boring," adds Hodgson.

The singer continues: "And we wanted to make something weird and fresh and radical that people would go: 'Yes, I remember what it's like to live again!'"

Hodgson: "Like when Popeye ate spinach!"

"We're not going to point fingers or name names but we've noticed that [other bands] didn't seem to be enjoying themselves on their new records," Wilson explains.

Everyone wants to be his friend - it's a bit like school Nick Hodgson on Mark Ronson (above)

"They seemed to be going through the motions. And we wanted to…"

"Live!" exclaims Hodgson with an exasperated flourish.

They were aided in that quest by producer Mark Ronson, who the band brought in for his informal approach as well as his magical musical touch.

"He brought a lot of vibe and spirit and happiness and joviality," according to the singer. "It didn't feel like work, it felt like making music."

"We were trying to impress him," Hodgson admits. "Everyone wants to be his friend. It's a bit like school. You know at school there was a kid who was pretty cool, good looking, good at homework… sold loads of records. That kid."

But the superstar DJ and hitmaker's trademark brass section was kept away from the Kaisers' recording sessions.

"If Mark had put loads of trumpets all over this record it would have been the worst thing," Wilson says.

Hodgson adds: "He tried. Right at the end. No, it's a Kaiser Chiefs record, it's not a Mark Ronson record."

The album comes 18 months after the band's last long player, Yours Truly Angry Mob, reached number one in the UK.

The band's last album went to number one in the UK in 2007

And the music world has changed considerably even since their debut Employment put them on the map in early 2005.

Radiohead, Coldplay, Keane and countless other bands have reacted to the new internet-influenced landscape by making music available for free, while others have given away albums with newspapers.

Kaiser Chiefs, though, have what could be regarded as an old-fashioned attitude.

"We're going to release it on CD," deadpans Wilson.

"The idea of doing something to sell a record apart from writing really good songs is a little bit weird.

"I want people to remember the record as the one with the really good songs, not the one that came in the inflatable packet with…"

"Crisps!" declares Hodgson.

The Kaiser Chiefs' single Never Miss a Beat is out in the UK on 6 October, with their album Off With Their Heads released on 13 October.