The Kooks: 'Sway'

Shunning the chirpy indie-pop sound that's served them well so far, the new Kooks single is slow-burning, intense and brooding. In fact, 'Sway' suggests the Brighton band are deliberating whether to stick with the shiny pop tunes - guaranteeing themselves a few more hits in the process - or try something riskier.

It's apparently about former bassist Max Rafferty, who left the band in January amidst reports of drug abuse, so the lyrics are more interesting than usual too. "Be whoever you have to be, I won't judge you," sings Luke Pritchard cryptically. Though not a drastic gear-change to rival Keane's brilliant 'Spiralling', this does at least suggest there's more to the Kooks than many originally thought.


> Click here to read our review of the Kooks' album