The Last Shadow Puppets

The hype is starting to rise around this collaboration of Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) and Miles Kane (The Rascals). The album "The Age Of The Understatement" is due out on the 21st of April with the first single of the same name out the week before. Now, before I start, I'll make it plain. I'm a huge Alex Turner fan, he's one of my favourite lyricists of all time. In contrast, I do not like The Rascals, as far as I can tell from what I've heard and seeing them live twice (both times supporting Arctic Monkeys) they are just a less talented version of Arctic Monkeys.

As soon as you hear this, you can't help thinking "thats Arctic Monkeys doing a version of Muse's Knights Of Cydonia". The galloping rhythm, as well as many of the effects on the guitars, sound like the epic ending to Muse's 4th album, but without the huge ending riff. So, a disappointment? Hardly.

As for the sound itself(and this is going on hearing one song), the description in this months Uncut: "The Last Shadow Puppets album is a big production number", seems to suit it well. There's definitely far more to it musically than anything by Arctic Monkeys or The Rascals. It's got a full orchestra, arranged by Owen Pallett, who also arranged for Arcade Fire. Lyrically, it's as good as you'd expect from Alex, but Miles clearly knows what he's doing as well, and his talent is far more present here than it is in any Rascals song I've heard.

This song has grown on me so much since I first heard it, and I have high hopes for the album. The duo clearly compliment each other perfectly, their voices suit each others really well, although Turner's is far more prominent here than Kane's.

So, here is the single, to be released April 14th, enjoy::

The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement