Kula Shaker take their name from a 9th-century Indian King, and their debut album, K further reveals their obsession with Eastern mysticism: the band sing in Sanskrit on "Tattva" and "Govinda" is based on an ancient Indian chant. On the strength of these and other hit singles, the band were voted Best Newcomers at the 1996 BRIT Awards and K went into the album charts at Number One--the fastest selling debut since Oasis' Definitely Maybe. A mixture of classic rock and 60's psychedelia, Kula Shaker were treated with critical derision that seemed to counteract their chart success. But the blend of East and West obviously struck a chord with the public, making this an interesting and exciting debut. --Carina Trimingham