The Klaxons

For a trio, the Klaxons sure can make a ton of noise. This British band’s name comes from the Greek word “klaxon,” which basically means “to shriek.” And sometimes they do just that on their full-length debut “Myths of the Near Future.”

The Klaxons are all about creating a fresh sound. While essentially a rock band, elements of both dance and pop music inflect their work. Songs such as “Atlantis to Interzone” and “Forgotten Works” feature repetitious, heavily rhythmic sections and infectious dance beats provided by live guitar and drum work, all reminiscent of techno and rave.

Yet on songs like “Golden Skans” and “As Above, So Below,” the band follows the tradition of melodic pop with their catchy “oohs” and “ahhs” and sugary imagery. The seventh track of the album, titled “Gravity’s Rainbow,” features dreamy—almost trippy—lyrics like “Come with me, come with me / We’ll travel to infinity” and “I’ll always be there, oh, oh, my future love / I’ll always be there, for you, my future love.” The sweet vocals, mixed with anxious guitar lines and steady disco beats, successfully work together to create a catchy tune.

While they seem to be striving for originality with their amalgam of influences, the Klaxons sometimes fall short of this goal. Unfortunately, a few songs seem to lapse into a boring lull without really ever going anywhere.

For example, the album opens with “Two Receivers,” a song that comes closer to piracy than homage with a drum beat eerily similar to Bloc Party’s “She’s Hearing Voices.” The song seems to drag along for four minutes and eighteen seconds without ever reaching any level of interesting progression.

That said, the Klaxons aren’t making bland fluff. The album definitely features a few gems. The earnest “It’s Not Over Yet” is both melodic and endearing. Meanwhile “Isle of Her” has the ability to put its listener in an enjoyable trance.

The Klaxons exude a pure energy and large sound that can sometimes tire the listener. Still, “Myths of the Near Future” boasts many interesting tracks and is ultimately an album worthy of multiple listens.

You don’t have to enjoy techno beats or rock guitar to appreciate the Klaxons. You just have to keep your mind open as your ears take in their shrieking—yet somehow melodic—dance-rock noise.