Kings Kaleidoscope smashed onto the scene with a creative sound and style that at the time really stood them out above the other bands and artists at the time. It soon filtered through that other worship albums started to be more creative. Hillsong United and others started to get rid of the acoustic guitars as their main instrument and started being more creative.
Led by producer/singer/songwriter Chad Gardner, the group formed in 2010 at Mars Hill Church plant on the campus of the University of Washington, where Gardner was a worship leader. Looking for a big, orchestral indie pop sound, he... Read More Kings Kaleidoscope smashed onto the scene with a creative sound and style that at the time really stood them out above the other bands and artists at the time. It soon filtered through that other worship albums started to be more creative. Hillsong United and others started to get rid of the acoustic guitars as their main instrument and started being more creative.
Led by producer/singer/songwriter Chad Gardner, the group formed in 2010 at Mars Hill Church plant on the campus of the University of Washington, where Gardner was a worship leader. Looking for a big, orchestral indie pop sound, he assembled a ten-piece group, handpicking players and developing their lush sound. Sporting a variety of influences from math rock and hip-hop to the dense sound of Canadian indie outfit Broken Social Scene, Kings Kaleidoscope recorded their first live EP, Sin, at a Good Friday service in 2011. A year later, they released the studio EP, Asaph's Arrows, shortly followed by a Christmas EP, Joy Has Dawned. In late 2013, Gardner and the band announced they were leaving Mars Hill where they had served as worship leaders and artists on the church's label. Their fourth EP, 2014's Live in Color, was released by BadChristian Music, a label formed by Seattle post-hardcore band Emery. Working with BadChristian Music and well-established indie label Tooth & Nail Records, Kings Kaleidoscope finally issued their debut LP, Becoming Who We Are.
Now back with a new album and I bet you will not believe this newer sound. Don't panic the band haven't gone to a whole new genre. It's not like they have produced a classical album (not that there would be anything wrong with that). What they have done is mixed together a few more genres. There is more hip hop and grime added to the creative soulful and gospel sounds.
This album feels more intense and driven. It's even more formidable than their other releases. What I love about this album is the tracks don't fit the whole verse, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus twice and fade template of Christian music with that steady and mid temp sound that seems to just stay at a certain level. These songs seem to swap, chop and change from style to style all the time, even mid song. It can at times feel a bit all over the place musically, but for me that's the charm of this experimental and exciting album. It's like experimental Jazz with a freedom to be and go wherever it feels like it should go.
This album isn't scared one little bit to be different. It's not being different for different's sake, these songs are all measured and thought out but are 100% not scared to be different.
I love it. I seem to be finding so many amazing albums at the moment I must be becoming boring. Yet this is a standout album just for its originality.
Kings Kaleidoscope have done something here that is very special. Let's be truly honest here. A lot of people will not get this album. Maybe it's too "out there". Yet for someone like myself who hears a lot of music that's where the beauty of this album lies.
This is not a traditional worship album like you will get from Jesus Culture or Matt Redman (not that these albums aren't amazing, this is something different completely). Yet the hearts are the same, even though they look (and sound) very different. This is a Kings Kaleidoscope album that really is something new.
Review by Jono Davies
LTTM Rating 5 Out of Stars Standout Tracks Alive
Sticks & Stones
The Beauty Between
