The Good Ship Rediscovery: Kula Shaker - Hush EP

We all forget about the older stuff from time to time, in our quest to stay up to speed with the latest and greatest. But one should always respect their elders. So don’t forget about them, y’hear?

It could possibly be that Kula Shaker is what you might consider an acquired taste. But so is haggis, and I definitely enjoy a little sheep innards every now and again. Culinary appetites aside, I've liked Kula Shaker even longer than I've liked haggis, approximately since 1997 (if not slightly earlier). I can still remember the time WHFS (back when they were still playing music I actually liked) decreed a Kula Shaker Day, back when the foursome was doing promotion for their delightful K record.

But today, dearhearts, we shall talk about a little EP the band recorded post-K. The Hush EP (at least, the copy that I have, not the copy you'll link to from here) was a three song, 60s-worshipping affair, centered around the band's excellent cover of "Hush." I'd always known the song before as done by Deep Purple, but the Kula Shaker version is bursting with exuberant joy, thanks in no small part to some lustily played organ. They gave the original a good kick in the pants, while staying true to their proclivity towards a sound soaked in psychedelic 60s nostalgia.

The other two songs are rather enjoyable for their parts as well. "Raagy One (Waiting for Tomorrow)" hints at singer Crispian Mills's attraction to India with some Eastern mysticism in the air, and the song is heavy with smokey thickness and chunky guitar play. I've always rather liked "Under The Hammer," a song full of an almost frantic energy and a touch of something akin to silliness about it. Whether that was intentional or not is another story...

Some amongst us might turn up noses at Kula Shaker, but my admiration wavers not. After all, the lads might have gone a smidge over the top at times, but yours truly appreciates that. This here EP is a good fit for the vintage organ enthusiast, the retro tomfoolery fans, and anyone else seeking a blast from the late Britpop era past.

MUSIC VIDEO: KULA SHAKER 'HUSH' from MARK AARONS on Vimeo.