King Khan & The Shrines - Idle No More

King Khan has been a celebrated cult figure in garage rock circles for almost two decades now, characterised by his wild appearance and larger than life persona. ‘Idle No More’ is the band’s first album in six years and self-proclaimed ‘masterpiece’. And while it’s named after an indigenous Canadian civil rights movement, it’s far from being hectoring polemic. Instead it’s a raucous forty minutes of good time party rock from a band who are high on life.

King Khan & The Shrines’ songs are all about energy, and a kinetic hip-shaking quality runs through every sleazy guitar riff. There’s certainly something of the old-time bar room about them. They burst with personality.

There’s a sense of ragged grandeur to the strings accompanying the wah-wah guitar rush of ‘Born To Die’, while ‘Luckiest Man’, with its celebratory horns bring to mind a garage rock take on Dexys. There are few combinations more uplifting than a Hammond organ and horn section in full flow; it’s a mix that’s used frequently here to joyous effect.

The pace drops slightly for the bruised soul duet of ‘Pray For Lil’ and the slinky ‘Darkness’. These interludes highlight the dexterity of Khan and his band, but the real highlights of ‘Idle No More’ are the carefree, freewheeling rockers that provide the thrills.

Khan’s state of the world message might be slightly obscured, but there’s an obvious feeling of hope and refreshing lack of restraint on this hugely enjoyable return.