Almost always designed as a compliment, comparing a contemporary musical act to those of a past era is not without its negative ramifications. Though it associates that band and its songs with a generation on which modern musical thinkers look fondly, it also risks implicitly condemning that band’s lack of a unique identity.
That a band can make authentic overtures to the acclaimed music of a previous generation is surely impressive, but if the best that can be said about a song is that it does justice to its ancestral influences, that song clearly lacks the freshness and memorability that allowed that earlier music to make a persisting impact.
Let it therefore be clarified that when one says Kitten’s new release “Like a Stranger” perfectly captures the spirit and vibe of the new wave and post-punk movements, he is not claiming its resemblance to the iconic sounds of the eighties is its only asset.
The overall production, which easily serves as the band’s biggest statement to date, serves most prominently as a perfect showcase for Kitten’s own personality. The fusing of heavy synth, layered production and a sassy, Diva-like performance from lead singer Chloe Chaidez each represent eighties staples in solitude, but when combined into a collective effort, they generate a signature sound that instantly makes Kitten an act to watch.
Too angsty to exist on a Madonna album yet too bright and bombastic to veer into the darker realms of post-punk, “Like a Stranger” can be reduced into nothing simpler or more relatable than a Kitten song. For all its unmistakable connections to the new wave era, it has honest, irrefutable rooting in the sound the band has been creating over the past few years.
Regardless of whether the band and its backers recognize the marketing potential in a throwback gimmick, the “Like a Stranger” vibe can fairly be traced to Kitten’s evolutionary path and thus attributed to the rehearsal studio rather than the boardroom. On its “Cut it Out” EP, the band demonstrated its mastery of sassy hooks (“Japanese Eyes”), ethereal composition (“G#”) and synth-pop (“Cut it Out”), and the title track from its new EP is more a summation of those styles than an escape from them. Nothing Kitten has previously done is ignored by the new song; remnants of those previous endeavors, instead, are artistically and successfully fused into a forward-looking, sustainable, refreshing identity.
Building on the promising, but unrefined “Yesterday,” “Like a Stranger” possesses the right mix of calculation and sincerity to emerge as something special in a realm of technically-superb, but often trivial alt-rock.
The song connects with listeners from the very first line, and by the time it reaches its hook, it has complete control over the audience. Rather than serving as a radio-friendly reward for trudging through the verses, the “Like a Stranger” chorus functions as an exclamation point for the song’s emotional journey. It is as that point that listeners receive the opportunity to unbuckle their seat belts, loosen their restraints and soar with Chaidez and her band.
And Chaidez’s role in turning “Like a Stranger” into a product of contemporary sincerity rather than antiquated replication cannot be understated. One of the most charismatic lead singers–man or woman–in today’s modern rock scene, Chaidez combines an infectious energy with mature self-awareness. She has more than enough poise, confidence and star quality to lead the track, but she never forgets to function as an instrument (albeit a paramount one) rather than a distraction.
“Like a Stranger” is the title track from Kitten’s next EP, which releases on August 27.
What are your thoughts? Check out the audio below:
Also new this week is “Pretty Green,” the latest from beloved rock act White Denim. Serving as the lead single for upcoming album “Corsicana Lemonade,” the new single affixes a commercial melody, bearing clear resemblance to songs from The Black Keys and Wolfmother, to the band’s signature, layered, energetic instrumentation.