Kosheen-”Resist

Those who jumped on the Kosheen fan-wagon through the pared-down hard house that characterised the massively popular single version of Hide U could have been a little side-tracked into thinking the Bristol outfit are a straightforward dancefloor-orientated act. This is not quite the case. A more accurate reflection of what Kosheen have to offer through their 16-track release Resist can be found in the latest single Catch, which carries a clearer pop slant than Hide U and a significantly less obvious rhythm. The album Resist offers a sound that crosses over the dark, grainy jazziness of Portishead (yeah, I know -“ everyone was compared to Portishead in the 1990s, but sometimes you have to call a spade a spade) with back beats, ragga and weighty, yet smooth and poppy vocal arrangements. Elegant, dark, breaky and full of hooks, Resist offers a well crafted collection of easily accessible tracks that define a line where sober meets swagger. This is solid work from Kosheen that shouldn’t fail to impress those who like their pop with a little musical credibility and style. Stand-outs are Cover, Gone and Harder. And yes, the CD contains both the album version and John Creamer & Stephane K remix of Hide U.