Kino
Radio Voltaire

Kino has been silent for thirteen year, probably because Mitchell, Trewavas and company has had other things to do and this wasn’t really in the plan either. Mitchell was planning the third part of the Lonely Robot saga but it was suggested to him that it might be a bit early for that so InsideOut had the idea to revive Kino. That was discussed with the other creative voice of the band, Trewavas and a new album was soon in the making and it was a quick process not something they had worked on for thirteen years since the first album Picture that was released in 2005. Radio Voltaire is the name of this new album and that is suggested by Mitchell as a radio station many probably would like, and if you miss his point I guess you will have to read up on Voltaire. The cover is quite cool as well, but will it be worth the wait.

It is recognisable as something that Mitchell has had his hand in, if you know Mitchell’s other projects I am quite sure this will sound familiar to you. Sure the input for Trewavas makes it slightly different and also recognisable for the Kino fan, but perhaps not quite as fresh and exciting as some stuff by Mitchell from the creative standpoint. It is poppy progressive rock, many of the songs are quite low in tempo and they are usually quite catchy and with some memorable choruses. The vocals are great as is usual when Mitchell sings and the production is also very strong, really well made album as is to be expected. With eleven tracks that are quite varied the 56-minute playing time feels like the right time for an album like this to last.

Nice album indeed, really good in fact. I find the calmer songs especially appealing with the opening title track, the third track Idlewild and the ending track The Silent Fighter Pilot as the highlights of this album. An album I find most appealing. Perhaps one might see it is something of a weak point that the album doesn’t really break from what Mitchell usually does, you hear It Bites, Lonely Robot and other stuff Mitchell has done when you listen, but it is good stuff it is similar to so it isn’t that big of a problem even though I had hopes for a somewhat more novel album. But this will surely be most appealing to fans of Mitchell’s music, fans of Kino or progressive rock in general – it is a really strong album.

Of course one can always debate whether or not it would be worth the wait but I think those who have waited thirteen years for a new album from Kino won’t be disappointed, as this is a great album. And it is definitely an album well worth checking out, I think that it is quite great and the vinyl issue definitely feels like a very interesting prospect for a new music investment. Radio Voltaire can certainly be described as my kind of radio.

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