AK and the Red Kites - Hotter Than the Sun

When guitarist and singer Andrew Knightley moved out of London and into the Chiltern Hills, he found inspiration in the birds that circled overhead. To him, the Red Kites represented freedom, a freedom that Knightley has endeavoured to carry into his music making. 

Sticking with the power trio format of his previous band (that’s Trident Waters, in case you were wondering), AK and the Red Kites serve up similarly grooving blues influenced riffs, but draw from a broader palette across the eleven tracks that make up debut album ‘Hotter Than The Sun’. 

Leaning into catchy melodies and memorable choruses, there’s an immediacy to the tracks here, a warmth indebted to Knightley’s voice which is at times reminiscent of Chris Cornell. But credit also to drummer Ash Sims and bassist Rob Hoey, who inject plenty of stomp and swagger throughout, ensuring that the likes of ‘Born to Lose’ and ‘Pearl’s Before Swine’ invite you to get up and move. 

‘Karmic Rituals’ is dominated by a spectacular, juddering riff so addictive that you’ll find yourself going back for more. The title track is similarly hypnotic, a lust fuelled celebration of an enchanting woman that’s heavy on the wah pedal and heavier on desire, Knightley occasionally lowering his voice to almost a primal growl. It’s a technique he utilises again on ‘Trouble Again’, a song marked with attitude and slinky guitar prowess. 

‘Sierra Starlight’ demonstrates restraint, the swampy, Southern styling quite different to the rest of the album but just as absorbing. Some of the best albums are the ones where it feels that every track has the potential to be a single, and that’s certainly the case here. ‘Stronger’ is particularly, er, strong, the uplifting sentiment of the chorus surely very effective on stage. 

‘Hotter Than the Sun’ is out now. Come and feel the heat.