Kitchens of Distinction "Folly" (2013)

Folly
release date: Sep. 30, 2013
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,92]
producer: Kitchens of Distinction, Pascal Gabriel

label: 3 Loop Music - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Extravagance" - 4. "Photographing Rain" - 6. "Japan to Jupiter" - 9. "Tiny Moments Tiny Omens"

5th studio album and the first in nearly two decades by the reformed Kitchens of Distinction. The album is released on the newly-founded 3 Loop Music, and it follows Cowboys and Aliens from 1994. Since the band's breakup in '96, lead vocalist Patrick Fitzgerald continued solo under the name of Fruit although, both guitarist Julian Swales and drummer Dan Goodwin play on Fruit's first album Hark at Her from '97. Around the year 2000, Fitzgerald performed as Stephen Hero and he was part of the collaboration-project Lost Girls. Guitarist Julian Swales also contributed on releases with Stephen Hero, and drummer Dan Goodwin played percussion on the '96 album Lovelife by Lush and on the '97 album Lovers and Trippers by Sufi.
Folly is a full-length album of brand new compositions, although stylewise, they continue - mostly as if several years didn't go by, and in that regard it sound somewhat dated. And I'm not really impressed BUT then again: I never really was after two first brilliant albums I really had to adapt myself to their most recent release. Patrick Fitzgerald's voice sounds exactly as it did 20 years ago and so does Julian Swales guitar, and I wonder if that can be bad?! Up until now, I do find it a rather pale imitation of shiny golden days. Alas, the band dissolved once again in early 2014 after releasing its so far final 4-track ep, Extravangance (apr. 2014). Of the three, only Fitzgerald seems to have continued a career in music. Firstly, he continued as Stephen Hero, and he has released the Pop Tarkovskij collaboration album together with Paul Frederick as The April Seven [both born on that date], and then most recently he has been part of the lasting trio, Oskar's Drum.

Kitchens of Distinction "Capsule - The Best of KOD: 1988-94" (2003)

Capsule - The Best of KOD: 1988-94 (compilation)
release date: Apr. 21, 2003
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

Compilation album by Kitchens of Distinction and an essential and fine collection, actually. Compilation albums rarely are. The album comes in two versions: a standard 1-disc cd release containing many of their best tracks from all four studio albums and a total of 16 tracks in no particular order, it seems, and then it comes in a limited 2 cd version, mainly for collectors because it includes a bonus cd containing rare single tracks - live, acoustic, or demo versions. What they really should've done was to release a 'rarities edition' only (excluding all the familiar songs) 'cause if you're really interested in singles, B-sides, live versions, and rare takes, well, you obviously already have most of their official releases. So, the 2 cd edition is a costly investment when you're only interested in disc two :-/ Needless to say, I chose the limited 2 disc edition, and the first disc is a rather strange compilation. The tracks are brilliant singles but the order of the songs makes it hard to listen to when you happen to know what great tracks normally would follow on the original release, and if I should rate that disc alone, I would hand it 3-4 stars. The strange order is not good but if you have no idea of the band's music, the order is irrelevant, and the single tracks are truly fine but also insufficient as a best of, and that is the name of the release, isn't it?! The second disc is simply great, and I'm thankful that it was released, but as an album it's hardly homogeneous, as all best of albums, but as a musical document, it's priceless.

Kitchens of Distinction "Cowboys and Aliens" (1994)

Cowboys and Aliens
release date: Oct. 1994
format: cd (TPLP 53 CD)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,74]
producer: Kitchens of Distinction, Pascal Gabriel, Pete Bartlett
label: One Little Indian - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Sand on Fire" (4 / 5) - 2. "Get Over Yourself" - 3. "Thought He Had Everything" - 4. "Cowboys and Aliens" (4 / 5) - 5. "Come on Now" - 6. "Remember Me?" - 7. "One of Those Sometimes Is Now" (4 / 5) - 8. "Here Come the Swans" - 9. "Now It's Time to Say Goodbye" (4 / 5) - 10. "Pierced" - 11. "Prince of Mars" (4 / 5)

4th and final studio album by Kitchens of Distinction - at least up until 2013 follows two years after The Death of Cool. 

For a long time it was a major disappointment to me, although, many consider the album as one of the band's best. It's the continued journey away from what I enjoyed the most about their music: the distorted shoegaze noise pop. Instead the band focuses on dream pop, which really isn't bad. I just thought, it sort of drowned aiming at a more polished mainstream arena. I know this may sound awkward, as I happen to love a lot of pop / rock artists. It was probably because of their initial originality and unique sound, which bore reminiscence of gothic rock and post-punk that I regretted this slow transformation. Today, I can see that, but it took me another decade before I realised its "hidden" beauty. 'Cause the album has some strong and sheer beautiful tracks like "Sand of Fire", "Cowboys and Aliens", "One of Those Sometimes Is Now" and "Now It's Time to Say Goodbye". Yes, for quite some time my impression was bland, and I thought of it as a clearly weaker release. After years of maturing it just grew better and better - also, I read some fine reviews praising the album, so I couldn't just let it go, and I'm glad I didn't. I think it fits so very nicely within their special musical universe of indie dream pop with a touch of noise pop and that ever so undefinable shoegaze, and once you dig into it, you'll might just understand why Interpol has mentioned KOD as one of their favourite artists. Julian Swales' reverberating guitar is all over this fine album. However, the album wasn't the band's breakthrough. In fact, it was mostly ignored and the band was subsequently released from its label contract. They shortly sought a restart in '96 as Kitchens O.D. and released the single Feel My Genie on Fierce Panda Records only to dissolve a few months later in '96.
Recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

Kitchens of Distinction "The Death of Cool" (1992)

The Death of Cool
release date: Aug. 3, 1992
format: cd (TPLP 39CD)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,84]
producer: Hugh Jones
label: One Little Indian - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "What Happens Now?" (4 / 5) - 2. "4 Men" (5 / 5) - 3. "On Tooting Broadway Station" (4 / 5) - 4. "Breathing Fear" (3,5 / 5) - 5. "Gone World Gone" (3 / 5) - 6. "When in Heaven" (4 / 5) - 7. "Mad as Snow" (4,5 / 5) - 8. "Smiling" (3,5 / 5) - 9. "Blue Pedal" (3,5 / 5) - 10. "Can't Trust the Waves" (4,5 / 5)

3rd studio album by Kitchens of Distinction released on One Little Indian is like the former produced by Hugh Jones, although, it reflects a noticeable change of sound as the production is more towards a dream pop feel with less distorted noise pop.
My first impression was bland, and I thought of it as a weaker release. I still do but it soon grew better as some of the softer pop songs were more than quite okay. The opening track "What Happens Now?" and my favourite "4 Men" (feat. Katie Meehan's vocal) are more in line with the previous album, with their high pitched tempo and great guitar based sound, than the remaining tracks. "When in Heaven" is a sing-along-up-tempo dream pop tune - nice and sweet. "Mad as Snow" is a surprisingly beautiful progressive dream pop ballad, and one of their finest songs. "Smiling" jumps on the same train as "When in Heaven" with an up-tempo and fine chorus line, and then it goes even further in the progressive area with "Blue Pedal" which is almost a post rock song before the style was even named. The album closes with "Can't Trust the Waves", again a slow progressive track only this time it's a ballad with saxophone... The entire experience is a bit confusing, and I guess that was my initial verdict - I couldn't find it's overall sound, and it still appears rather varied and broad... maybe for the broad minded. What really binds the whole thing together is first and foremost Julian Swales' signature sound of harmonically distorted guitar-noise - the dna of the band.
At the time of its release I would most likely have rated it 2,5 - today I think of it as close to 4 stars.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]

Kitchens of Distinction "Strange Free World" (1991)

Strange Free World
release date: 1991 (Jan.?)
format: cd (US issue - 75021 5340 2)
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,54]
producer: Hugh Jones
label: One Little Indian / A&M Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Railwayed" (5 / 5) - 2. "Quick as Rainbows" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Hypnogogic" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "He Holds Her, He Needs Her" - 5. "Polaroids" (4,5 / 5) - 6. "Gorgeous Love" - 7. "Aspray" - 8. "Drive That Fast" (5 / 5) - 9. "Within the Daze of Passion" (4,5 / 5) - 10. "Under the Sky, Inside the Sea"

2nd studio album by Kitchens of Distinction released on One Little Indian at some point in January 1991 (some sources claim a promo was released in Mar. '90, some that the first actual release took place in Jun. '90, others point to Nov./Dec. '90, though most sources file it as from 1991. It appears more certain that the US cd issue on A&M was issued in March '91). Like the debut, it's one of the absolute best releases of the year. When a band like KOD at some points betters its fantastic debut, and even in my mind also produces something that equals the best in a year, it means that it's better than most. I have rated their first two albums equally high but they're not alike. The debut album was a revelation of stylistic innovation and sheer energy. This one is the sound of a matured orchestra with a sophisticated soundscape. I love the sound of this album - it's deeper, more spacious, and the guitar work by Julian Swales is just breathtaking. Patrick Fitzgerald has a distinct melancholic way of phrasing that I think people either like or not. Needless say, I'm with the pros. "No surpiiii-iise"... ["Railwayed"] I just love the way he bends that line accompanied by Swales' gorgeous guitar. The album has no weak tracks, no fillers but several great compositions. The opening track is one of my all-time favourite KOD songs together with "Drive That Fast" (which I also own has a 12''). They're both up-tempo songs and I have played the latter a million times at maximum volume jumping around the house singing along: "Take me... - awaaay from these simple feeli-ings - I know... - there's a place on the other side of hee-ere - Take me... awaaay from these simple feeli-ings - I know... - I'll take that car and drive there faster --- I-would-never-want-to-do-that-to-you - I-would-never-want-to drive that fa-a-ast". The songs are not all up-tempo compositions like these, as one of their other great tracks on the album "Within the Daze of Passion" is a quite different composition. It's implementing progressive shoegaze and has that special trademark of theirs built on tension. The song is like a journey, or a Bolero-like dance evolving, investigating down a path into new territory and ending in a burst of (noisy) sound, like sheer bright light. The end track is the most quiet and monotone track with little focus on lyrics on account of a composition utilising horns, strings / synths and where the chorus-line is made up of a repetitious horn-section.

An all-time favourite.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

1991 Favourite releases: 1. Talk Talk Laughing Stock - 2. Van Morrison Hymns to the Silence - 3. Kitchens of Distinction Strange Free World

Kitchens of Distinction "Drive That Fast" (1990) (single) (ep)

Drive That Fast, 7'' single ep
release date: 1990
format: vinyl (49TP12)
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Hugh Jones
label: One Little Indian - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "Drive That Fast" (5 / 5) - 2. "These Drinkers" - - B) 1. "Elephantiny" - 2. "Three to Beam Up"

Ep single by Kitchens of Distinction. The title track is one of the band's best songs ever, and it features on the forthcoming '91 album. The track "Elephantiny" is not identical to the title track on the Elephantine ep nor the same as the song appearing on later reissues of the debut album.

Kitchens of Distinction "Quick as Rainbows" (1990) (single)

Quick as Rainbows, 12'' single
release date: Mar. 1990
format: vinyl (43TP12)
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]
producer: Kitchens of Distinction
label: One Little Indian - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "Quick as Rainbows" (4 / 5) - 2. "Mainly Mornings" (4,5 / 5) - - B) 1. "In a Cave" (4 / 5) - 2. "Shiver" (4 / 5)

Single release by Kitchens of Distinction contains four tracks. The title track is recorded by Martin Hannett and it's included on the forthcoming second studio album Strange Free World (1991), and the remaining three songs are taken from the '89 debut album, Love Is Hell but here in live recordings making this a very strong release.
Ep or 12" single? There's hardly any difference. This 12" single has 4 tracks just like the Drive That Fast ep. Anyway, what makes this a more interesting release is the inclusion of live material.
Front cover info: "Includes all Kitchens lyrics ever."

Kitchens of Distinction "Elephantine" (1989) (ep)

Elephantine, ep
release date: Nov. 13, 1989
format: digital (29TP12)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Kitchens of Distinction
label: One Little Indian - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Elephantine" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "Margaret's Injection" (4 / 5) - 3. "The 1001st Fault" - 4. "Anvil Dub"

4 track ep by Kitchens of Distinction is a fine release that I have come to like a lot many years later. The title track is beautiful tension and could've fitted nicely on the debut as well as the political satire of "Margaret's Injection" - a controversial song about giving Margaret Thatcher a lethal injection... (very much like the track "Margaret on the Guillotine" by Morrissey from his debut in 1988). The last track only seems a bit strange and difficult to accept within their soundscape. The ep is included as bonus tracks on a 1993 reissue of the debut album.

Kitchens of Distinction "Love Is Hell" (1989)

Love Is Hell [debut]
release date: Apr. 1989
format: vinyl (tplp9) / cd (TPLP9CD)
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,46]
producer: Kitchens of Distinction
label: One Little Indian - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist of the original cd: 1. "In a Cave" (4 / 5) - 2. "Time to Groan" (4 / 5) - 3. "Shiver" - 4. "Prize" (5 / 5) - 5. "The 3rd Time We Opened the Capsule" (4 / 5) - 6. "Her Last Day in Bed" - 7. "Courage, Mother" (5 / 5) - 8. "Mainly Mornings" (5 / 5) - 9. "Hammer" (5 / 5)

Studio album debut by Kitchens of Distinction is an extremely fascinating debut, and I have had my difficulties in selecting the above rating. Yes, I put Pixies first but that's really only because I chose to define my favourite albums for each year, and frankly, these three are all major albums that I simply love and wouldn't miss! Also, no. 1 on the list IS Pixies' best release, and the other two are not THE best by either of the two other bands, so that sort of made it simple(r).
I purchased this on cd in England in late '89 while temporarily working at a hotel in Banbury, England (The Whately Hall Hotel, an easy and cheap way to experience another country). So, I guess it must have been about 7-8 months after the release. I hadn't come across one single track from the album but just found myself searching for interesting music at a small local music store. The cover caught my attention and just signalled 'interesting indie pop' - so it really matters what type of expression the package comes in. After listening to the first 30-37 seconds, to the point when lead vocalist (and bassist) Patrick Fitzgerald sings "..and it's miiiii-i-iiine" in that highly original phrasing accompanied by Julian Swales' brilliantly distorted and delayed 'flanger' guitar sound that is so much KOD and absolutely like no one else, I knew then, I would have to own the album. Much later into the new Millenium I acquired the album on vinyl.
It's simple, rough and soft [not like Pixies quiet and LOUD complementary style], it's dynamic, intense, sophisticated, and dreamy, and still quite coherent. It's post-punk when most beautiful, and it's shoegaze in its prime. Listen to the appraised Interpol and you know they'd be nothing without Kitchens of Distinction.
Highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars (bonus tracks edition) ]

1989 Favourite releases: 1. Pixies Doolittle - 2. The Blue Nile Hats - 3. Kitchens of Distinction Love Is Hell

Kitchens Of Distinction

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(L-R) Julian Swales, Patrick Fitzgerald and Dan Goodwin

Kitchens of Distinction (aka KOD) was a British trio formed in London 1986. Band members: Patrick Fitzgerald (vocals, bass), Julian Swales (guitar), Dan(iel) Goodwin (drums) (all born in '64). While still active they never hit any big sales or high charts but the band has become a major source of inspiration for bands and artists later on. Actually, I had my troubles in accepting the sound of Interpol as they blew everyone over with their critically acclaimed debut Turn on the Bright Lights (2002), more than ten years after KOD's debut, and had a whole world kneeling for a sound that really was built on two of my favourite bands characteristics: Joy Division and KOD. With the emergence of new post-punk bands with references to British dream pop and shoegaze in the new millennium, KOD had a revival, or their reputation and albums had. Although, they haven't reformed, rumour has it that members of the band are writing songs together again. I was particularly extremely fond of their first three albums only. Actually, after listening to their fourth album Cowboys and Aliens (1994) upon its release, I was so disappointed that I simply never bought the album until a few years ago. I thought it was way too much indifferent pop with all the characteristics of dream pop and shoegaze completely gone. Eventually, as I said, I bought the last studio release as well. I had read lots of good reviews and decided I could have been wrong about my then verdict. So, I bought it without listening to it and was positively surprised as I put it on... although, I understand my reservations at the time of the release. I had been hoping for some return to the initial sound and their two best albums, and then this further approach into dream pop with more focus on 'pop' but it's not bad, not at all.
The group disbanded after 10 years in 1996. And yes, in the aftermath this band has been praised and has gained much more recognition than when they released and played together. I know several artists who has had a similar experience, but still, the fine position they hold today is rather noteworthy. In the early 2000s the whole music scene was overtaken by a post-punk, dream pop, shoegaze, and noise pop revival with prominent bands like Interpol, Editors, Snow Patrol, The Bravery, Bloc Party, and with post rock and progressive bands like Muse, Mogwai, and Sigur Rós - all bands and artists who play and experiment with some of the same ways of expression as one will find in the music of KOD. It's not to say that they invented a genre or style as such. They were themselves clearly inspired by noise pop, post-punk and the indie scene (The Jesus and Mary Chain, Sonic Youth) and they developed a unique style founded on the sort of guitar sound of The Chameleons, Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine, although KOD's music was much more based on up-tempo beats and melodic arrangements. Songs and lyrics are what many tend to focus on when listening to 'pop' music, and in the case with KOD this is what make critics reject the band. Patrick Fitzgerald's lyrics is / were often about gay issues but in what way is this an issue when the strength of their music is... their music? The sound they produce, regardless textual analysis of lyrics, is their music - which is not to say it wouldn't have mattered if they had praised a Lord Almighty, or the Nazis, as they obviously didn't. Some music is just not all about lyrics (this is not Leonard Cohen or Robert Zimmerman!) and I generally tend to focus on music's emotional effect. For me it doesn't really matter if Fitzgerald sings about killing Margaret Thatcher with a lethal injection ("Margaret's Injection" on the ep Elephantine, 1989) or how being gay or sexual experiences are a huge source of inspiration for writing songs ("Prize", "Hammer", "Within the Daze of Passion", "Breathing Fear", and "When in Heaven") when it's expressed and accompanied with brilliant sound of music BUT on the other hand it only becomes a secondary experience digging into that,; AND: life experiences are not that strange a source to dig from when writing music...
Kitchens of Distinction is one of my all-time favourite bands. I still listen to all of their albums occasionally, despite the fact that their music is 19-24 years old and part of a stylistic evolution. For me, it still holds and if not as refreshingly new at least as highly original and uplifting music that I still find emotionally touching.

My own Kitchens of Distinction collection of vinyl and cd albums (1989-1994)

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