Attack & Release

The Black Keys collaborates with legendary Danger Mouse

Since the beginning of the XXI century there have been two prominent duos playing lo-fi blues rock – The White Stripes and The Black Keys. As the time passed their works were becoming less and less similar and today there is left no doubt of each of the bands' being unique, The Black Keys being the one that sticks to a more minimalist garage sounding with a tendency to use tape recorders and make all the production by itself. The duo from Akron, Ohio consisting of Dan Auerbach on vocals and guitar and drummer Patrick Carney released its debut album The Big Come Up in 2002 which immediately received positive critic reviews, and this spring presents us with its fifth album. Produced by Danger Mouse record Attack & Release has been planned as a joint project with Ike Turner, but the latter passed away in December, and the result is the work of the band and the legendary producer alone. It will not be too much to call Attack & Release the duo's best work so far for comparing favorably with the previous ones due to a more interesting sounding it really rocks.

Something significant and wanting rethinking on Attack & Release

The Black Keys' sullen texts and complicated tunes proved to combine greatly with Danger Mouse's effects including unusual beats and back vocals. Of course Dan's recognizable powerful voice refines absolutely each track on Attack & Release combining harmoniously with guitars, drums, flutes and various other instruments. The album opens with All You Ever Wanted, a slow composition with witty lyrics, contrasting with a harder blues song I Got Mine. The single Strange Times is a fast track with a melody and tempo changing on chorus and refined with strange background noises, while Psychotic Girl is remarkable for the most distinct tune and is the brightest example of production from Danger Mouse in the respect of the beat, guitars and even the way Auerbach sings. A classic blues composition Lies with repeating lines is one of the album's most bitter romantic songs, whereas the most interesting is definitely song consisting of two parts Remember When. A great track Same Old Thing is refined with a singing flute and broken guitars, while another easy highlight is Oceans And Streams with an amazing beat that makes the melody especially beautiful. The record closes with a sullen composition Things Aint Like They Used To Be that leaves one with an impression of having just heard something significant and wanting rethinking.

Each song telling its own story

For every one fond of blues and garage rock The Black Keys will always remain one of the central figures of the genre. The creations of the two musicians inspire a great amount of listeners, by the way among their fans there are such renowned artists as Robert Plant, Thom Yorke and Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett. Actually when you listen to Attack & Release even once you will quickly understand these people for this record is really carried out well. Surprisingly Danger Mouse has not penetrated too much into the band's territory permitting himself only some refinement without trying to change The Black Keys characteristic sounding, still this has proved just enough to add some spiciness to each single track. Taking into account that before the music of the duo often became part of film soundtracks (including Black Snake Moan starring Samuel L. Jackson) and each song tells its own story on Attack & Release do not be surprised if you hear one of them on another psychological thriller. For it is due to such bands as The Black Keys a picture obtains a different meaning and the director's message sounds more vivid and convincing.