Amazon.co.uk Review
Famous for demonstrating how less is more when it comes to publicity, it comes as no surprise that
The Age of the Understatement, the first side project from Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys, should appear to no great fanfare. The Last Shadow Puppets are Turner and Miles Kane, formerly of Monkeys tourmates The Little Flames and now in the Rascals, aided by producer (and here, drummer) James Ford, also of Simian Mobile Disco. Inspired by the widescreen orchestral Sixties pop of Scott Walker and legendary arranger David Axelrod, they enlisted the London Metropolitan Orchestra under the aegis of Canadian Owen Pallett (aka Final Fantasy and an erstwhile member of the Arcade Fire's string section). The result is entirely successful, owing as much to the romanticism of Richard Hawley and the eclectic approach of the Coral as any sixties precursors. The thundering title track is pure Scott though, "I Don't Like You Anymore" is twisted pop in the best Cosmic Scouse tradition and the beautiful "Meeting Place", brilliantly enhanced by Pallett's orchestration, already sounds like an old classic. "Standing Next to Me" is genuinely exciting, "Calm Like You" is a new take on Turner's familiar style while "The Chamber" even sees him crooning.
The Age of the Understatement is a fine, convincing album that proves Turner's talent is truly adaptable and marks Kane out as a talented songwriter too.
--Steve Jelbert
CD Description
The result of a collaboration between Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner and lead singer of The Rascals Miles Kane, The Last Shadow Puppets' debut release is a predictably epic affair. The title track single is a cinematic patchwork of Morricone-esque themes and rhythmic motifs, dashed off with the sullen Northern wit we've come to expect from Turner. Withstrings arranged and conducted by Owen Pallett (otherwise known as Final Fantasy), 'The Age Of The Understatement' is amusical departure for Turner and Kane, taking in influencessuch as Scott Walker and David Bowie.
