In 2008, readers of Q Magazine voted Keane's first two albums, Hopes and Fears and Under the Iron Sea, as two of the Top 15 British albums ever made. Only three other bands share the honor of having two albums in Q's Top 20: Radiohead, Oasis and The Beatles.
Keane was formed in 1995 by singer Tom Chaplin, pianist Tim Rice-Oxley and drummer Richard Hughes. The group is known for its use of piano, but the recent Perfect Symmetry finds Keane experimenting with new sounds and textures that do include guitar. The band employs sleek hooks and polished instrumentation, all the while retaining the pop sensibilities that have helped it fill arena seats for years. In this interview with World Cafe, the group discusses the inspiration behind the new album's experiments.
This story was originally aired on June 19, 2009.
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