Keane – ‘Spiralling’ Live On Jonathan Ross

The new Keane album, Perfect Symmetry, is due out on October 13th, and this song, Spiralling, is the first single to be released from it. In the absence of any kind of official video (at least from what I’ve found online), I’ve had to make do with a video of the band performing the song on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross instead.

It’s weird seeing the band back after quite an extended period of time out of the limelight but expect to see a lot of them over the next few weeks as they try to sell the new album to a potentially disinterested public. See if you can spot what’s changed since the band have been away.

The first thing I noticed was the addition of a new member, who seems to be doubling up on the keyboard as well as providing some strange sound effects. I guess this is to replace the computer that used to always be present to provide the backdrop to many of the songs and keep everything in time and together.

The other blindingly obvious change is that lead singer, Tom Chaplin, now has a guitar strapped to his body. Which is a bit of a departure for the band known for having no guitar! Pianist Tim Rice-Oxley has also altered his playing style, with the keyboard looking straight at the audience, and the odd dramatic swaying action he once had seemingly gone for good.

This isn’t a review of the song but I will say I’m slightly disappointed. It’s not a bad tune but it’s certainly no pop anthem like Bedshaped or Everybody’s Changing. Keane seem to have evolved in to just another traditional indie pop band, but what now sets them apart from the crowd?

[Photo Source: From Newscom with permission]