If Hoovers describe themselves as ‘real individuals living in an unreal world,’ then what is real? With ‘Kaleidoscopic Red’ Hoovers show us. Reality is an uncompromising melee of confusion and bacchanalian joy.
Hoovers themselves come from the very real city of Nottingham. While electronic influences exist, guitars, drums and other real (tangible) instruments are their working tools; tools that give ‘Kaleidoscopic Red’ a pleasant fug.
Then come lyrics about wondering if ‘I’m falling from the ceiling’ or ‘if I’m even human,’ at which point Hoovers enter the abstract. Things are compositionally physical but come across as other-worldly as the band ‘paint [the] world a kaleidoscopic red.’
The song is brightly mixed too. Piano led dance-rock in the Fatboy Slim mould, group-sung chants consume as choruses implore us – ‘live life, love life, we are free.’
With this, euphoria abounds. The band gambol through the song like sugared-up kids. Festively presented, it’s as if Hoovers scheduled recording sessions between party games and slices of cake, streamers and confetti strewn carelessly across the studio floor, instruments played by party-hat-wearing revellers.
To this extent the song is largely predictable. Like any hootenanny, there’s little in the way of stark novelty; the song’s party tricks are choreographed as such. But this is insignificant. ‘Kaleidoscopic Red’ is unabashed to be joyful, and that’s the way it should be.