Lead Us Into Temptation is the illustriously lo-fi second album from Melbourne rockers The Kits. Garnering a cult following all across Europe the band’s garage sound here develops into swirls of rhythmic country ballads and rockabilly influenced surf-pop.
A slowly pounding drum and hazy guitars open the record with a sleazy laid-back feel as vocalist Kit Atkinson slurs his hypnotic lyrics of “it’s not my time” at us with all the spirit of someone who could do with a cup of coffee. It quickly picks up the pace from here though as guitarist Marc Bonnet channels his inner sixties child to produce some psychedelic riffs.
Produced by The Saints’ Chris Bailey, who quickly became a fan of the band, the record is characterised by the underground punk sound many of you will be familiar with which means the album feels instantly recognizable. While it may appear to be a homage to this genre it goes far beyond it as the lurching beats of ‘Salvation’ recall the late Johnny Cash and ‘Detroit Feeling’ does exactly what it says on the tin; one of the finest tracks on the album reminiscent of modern stoner rockers The Strokes, it allows us to hear Atkinson use a much more upbeat pitch in his vocals as the song ups the tempo in the second half.
The Kits are a brilliant band and perfect to represent the underground scene that spawned them. Their music fits in so many styles it’s hard to say what it is; ‘Modern Love’ sounds like Costello before the spooky riffs come in, but all these tracks work around the fact that this is a garage band. That’s what’s so good about them; they know what they’re good at and work within its confines.
Raucous vocals, traditional rock ‘n’ roll riffs, grumbling bass lines, and rambling lyrics that talk about isolation and deceit – “the time it wasn’t right each time we’d meet, the distance getting further each time we speak” – Lead Us Into Temptation isn’t a record you’ll be getting bored of anytime soon. Any album with the line “you may be a bitch, but you aint no whore” is okay by us.
[Rating:4]
Release date: 13/06/2011
