Finally stepping out of his more successful mate's shadow, Miles Kane's debut proves that he's just as adept at whacking out little belters, although as the song goes, it's a little help from his friends.
As with The Last Shadow Puppets album Kane collaborates with Sheffield buddy and Arctic Monkey Alex Turner, though only as songwriter. As with that album there's a definite nod to the 60s but rather than the big orchestral sounds of Scott Walker and early Bowie pop, here Kane is influenced by '60 Mod rock and a touch of Northern Soul. That said, how that inspiration manifests itself is pretty superficial. It's more in Kane's retro Mod styling and heavy production than the actual songwriting. Despite the 60s sounding echoes, reverb and the odd bit of orchestration, the songs are pretty conventional British indie rock and reminiscent of Weller's solo stuff, Ocean Colour Scene, Oasis etc. Actually if anything, 'Come Closer', the album opener reminds me more of T-Rex.
The album features a number guests. Mr Noel Gallagher supplies his backing vocals to 'My Fantasy', French actress Clemence Posey duets with Kane on 'Happenstance' and 6 of the tracks are even co-written with Alex Turner.
It's a very good debut but not great album. The first half is strong and up until 'Inhaler' the quality is pretty high, very immediate and catchy. From track eight things start to get a bit dreary. Kane's nasal Sheffield twang really begins to drag, especially when the slower songs ('Take The Night From Me' and 'Telepathy'). When the songs get weaker he covers them in thick layers of retro 60s production. It's like the 'mock Tudor cladding and beams you see on modern houses. Naff, unconvincing and frankly he's trying too hard. There's at least two non-events that should have been ditched completely ('Kingcrawler' and 'Better Left Invisible').
The best tracks are definitely the singles.
'COME CLOSER'
'REARRANGE'
'HAPPENSTANCE'
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