Sometimes you know that something is just 'right'. There is an almost indefinable quality that is evident from the outset that continues throughout the film, book, or in this case album. It is not often that I get this feeling, but much like 2004's "Saturnalia" from The Gutter Twins or 2010's "High Violet" from The National, this new album featuring a collaboration between Karen O from Yeah Yeah Yeahs and renowned producer Brian Burton, aka Dangermouse, has 'it'.
My, oh my, this is some album. An early album of the year contender? Most definitely.
Strong words you might say, but just listen to it. Running the full gamut of styles, sometimes within the same song, from electronica, through orchestral pop, funk and soul to rock whilst stopping off at movie soundtracks and torch songs along the way.
The list of influences that I hear include "Low"era Bowie, Pink Floyd, Grandaddy, Chic, The Beach Boys, Motown, Phil Spector, Portishead, John Barry and on and on. It is as if they have taken an encyclopedia of pop and rock music history, put it in a blender and recorded the resultant smoothie.
The sound of this album is superb, with the vocal talents of Karen O mainly being shown off in breathy restraint, only really cutting loose on "Woman". However that is no bad thing, she really shines throughout.
Highlights? The whole thing to be honest, but mention has to go the title track which is a 9 minute, 4 part journey that gives an almost perfection summation of the entire album.
The baroque rhythmic tricks of "Ministry", the pure pop of "Turn The Light", and the updated Motown of "Leopard's Tongue"
This review has come a few weeks after release simply because I was trying to corral my thoughts on this into some form of coherence. Even now I'm still struggling, much like the album, to settle in one place. Really all I can say is give it a listen, it really is something.
"I'm nowhere, I'm no one, I'm nobody, there's nobody but you....."