Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
The Kaiser Chiefs promised a hiatus and that is what their fans got and thankfully the time has come again for the Yorkshire band. With new addition Vijay Mistry on drums, Ricky Wilson, Andrew White, Nick Baines, Simon Rix have conspired to make sure that the past few years away have not been for nothing, that they have worked what ever made them go arguably off the boil somewhat out of their system and will see their fans relish as if have been offered the keys to musical sanctuary in the form of Education, Education, Education & War.
As with the first couple of albums by the band, the secret to their music prowess lays in the catchy, the combination of short well delivered lyrics but so well observed that it would take the efforts of Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and Richard Attenborough to come up with a plan so devilish in which not to be noticed. The lyrics and the music, at times spirited and bouncy and others down right infectious, culminate in some exceedingly good tracks. Songs such as The Factory Gates, the outstanding Ruffians on Parade, Coming Home and Cannons all take the listener through a century of bloodshed and so called peace and all simmer with anger and typical humour.
The final part of the album is possibly the best part and well worth the wait to hear it. The delivery of some outstanding poetry in which the likes of Sassoon, Graves and the great Wilfred Owen would have been proud to pen this superb anti-war poem. Written by the band and delivered with the delicate tones of the tremendous Bill Nighy, The Occupation of Damnation Eternal is a fitting piece in which to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War One. The soundtrack that plays just underneath the spoken word is one of sombre discourse and the thought of military and Government lies, the way in which a country can help its people out of poverty is by preparing them for war. It is just a superbly simple addition to the album but one that speaks volumes and should be highly praised for its content and style.
Perhaps it helps to rest a while away from the spotlight, not recommended for the everyday of course but in terms of making an album sound as crisp and exhilarating, playful and imaginative and arguably thoroughly as if you have got your musical mojo back then by all means, take the opportunity if you want to, for nobody will complain in terms of a major British band come alive once more if that is what it takes.
Education, Education, Education & War brings the Kaiser Chiefs back to their sparkling best. The rumble that you hear is The Future is Medieval being slowly turfed along and sent out for a long, long walk. It is excellent to have the band back in such a positive manner.
Ian D. Hall