The Brighton boys are back – again. Barely a year after the release of their fourth studio album, Listen, The Kooks have dropped a new single entitled ‘Creatures of Habit’. It’s certainly not a title that aptly describes the band, given how they seem to be moving further and further away from the indie acoustic roots of Inside In / Inside Out, but that’s by no means a bad thing.
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Somewhat continuing in the style of Listen with its colourful psychedelia, ‘Creatures of Habit’ goes further still down the pop-funk route by splashing in some synthesised vocals and a groovy electronica beat. This comes as no surprise after learning the song was born from a collaboration with Isom Innis of Foster the People – Luke Pritchard has even admitted to “channeling” the band’s frontman, Mark Foster.
The song may not satisfy old fans who adore their sun-kissed sing-along melodies, and it’s admittedly perhaps not as memorable as some of their previous work, but it’s this kind of experimentation that keeps their music interesting. It shows The Kooks aren’t a band who would prefer to just play it safe and profit off the past, and that’s something to be admired regardless of whether you enjoy their new sound or not.
Words by Samantha King