https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-SJjFcnsGs The Klaxons were a genuine oddity in the 00s music scene. They won the Mercury Music Prize with their debut album Myths of the near future, despite the fact that their premise and promise was the Nu-Rave live experience. Whether they achieved their mission is still to be decided. But what is beyond question is the sheer energy they channeled into Golden Skans perfectly summed up the post rave vibe of the decade. It was a song that harnessed the ferocity of The Prodigy, the nihilism of Primal Scream and packaged it as a bunch of pretty boys playing very serious music. And here they unquestionably pulled it off. If Duran Duran were 21 year olds at this point in musical history, they would look and sound just like this. It was also an important mirror of the hedonism of the times, where Carpe Diem was the ideal. "You can forget our future plans." The video was a vainglorious affair, starting portentously with the words In the beginning there was nothing, and in the end there will be nothing, only light. Whilst its certainly a pastiche of Can you feel it? by The Jackson 5, its the perfect storyline for the grandeur they were aiming for. Golden Skans ticks every box of the glorious confusion that was the pop music of the 00s. Its a jack of all trades, but ultimately a master of none, but none the worse for it. Its a snapshot of a sheer energy rush delivered by a frenetic set of instruments that are all in a race to be the first to the finish line. And what are exactly are Golden Skans? Well with a song that sounds as wonderfully delirious as this, we officially dont care.
What makes music fantastic? Star quality, amazing music, breathtaking lyrics and the ability to bring something new to the table, even if that means a new take on the classics. That's what I love to listen to and write about.
As well as writing for What Culture, I occasionally write a blog http://tedney.blogspot.co.uk and sometimes use Twitter, but sparingly @TedneyNash