Over the past few years, Kensington has convincingly grown out to be the biggest band in the Netherlands. They play the main stage at the biggest festivals over the summer, are often seen in Dutch tv shows and receive bucket loads of airplay on the radio. In 2014 they had their first number one album with Rivals, delivering the hit singles ‘Streets’ and ‘War’. After a lengthy album campaign fans did not have to wait too long for new material. In September they returned with ‘Do I Ever’, a typical Kensington pop rock banger with a bombastic chorus. It was the first track taken from their brand new fourth album Control. Are the boys able to switch things up a bit or do we get more of the same?
Although ‘Do I Ever’ might not have been the most original choice for first single of this record, it is definitely one of the best tracks they have ever put out with meaningful lyrics and a chorus that is undeniable in every single way. Still it is good to hear that the guys are pushing themselves on this record, making sure that the tracks are not too samey and they actually cross some boundaries they did not come close to before. Fear not, if you like their more radiofriendly sound, there is still enough for you to enjoy, for example the poppy chorus of ‘Rely On’ or the soaring melody of ‘Bridges’, but it feels like Eloi and his men realized they now are an established act in the Netherlands, which gives them more freedom to not just chase the radio hits.
‘Regret’ for example, is driven by ear catching synths and a more electronic production, while the raging closer ‘St. Helena’ with loud guitars shows off the rock heart of the band. Those tracks represent two completely different sides of the Kensington spectrum which still makes this album into a cohesive body of work. In comparison to their hit album Rivals, Control is a lot more dynamic, with tracks that carefully build up from acoustic vibes to a big and bombastic climax, like ‘Sorry’, title track ‘Control’ and ‘Storms’, which deliver some of the finest lyrical moments in Kensington’s career so far.
On ‘Storms’, singer and songwriter Eloi goes deep and personal, singing about his experience with panic attacks and the dark period he went through after a busy time with the band. ‘Sorry’ is an atypical love song on which he already apologizes for all the things he will not be able to give or do within a relationship. Another highlight is the painfully honest ‘All Before You’ on which Eloi asks himself: “How did I end up here? All I give is worn out phrases, cold embraces.” His raw vocal style shines during the chorus and it gives the lyrics another layer of emtional depth.
Kensington goes deeper, harder and louder on their latest album, leaving more room for experiments which results in a dynamic and cohesive record that might well be their best to date!
Must Listen: Slicer, Sorry, All Before You, Storms, Control
