Photo Credit: Zackery Michael
Arctic Monkeys have released their highly anticipated new album ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’. It’s an album which will divide and conquer. At the first listen to the crooning smooth fluidity and leisurely pace of the tracks there is a suspense and doubt that grows like a tumour in your brain before you take a step back and see the album as a whole. It’s an experience, a bit different but as a collective piece of work, it’s a bloody fine display of refined meticulous musicianship. Turner has been flexing his lyricist muscles and in this sixth album he’s primed and ready to mind boggle with encryptions and witty obscurities. This effort sees the guitar rock of ‘AM’ take a back seat as keys become the prime instrument. It’s spacey with a noticeable lack of sing along choruses but what it appears to lack at first disperses between the mysterious hazy synths, 70’s vibes and lush arrangements.
‘The Star Treatment’ sees Turner narrate the lyrics like a neo-noir crime anthology film reflection through a creamy smooth backdrop of twinkling keys and lush whining backing vocals. It sets a black and white motion picture scene filled with a classy lounge bar drunken contemplation. This vibe carries throughout the album. If ‘The Star Treatment’ has you listening with gritted teeth ‘One Point Perspective’ slowly eases you into the concept of the album as it broods with lavish strings, sweet falsetto vocals and slick bass grooves wrapping you slowly and securely into its luxuriousness- seducing those doubting thoughts until that steamy guitar solo hooks you firmly in its grasp. ‘American Sports’ adds to the intrigue as it grasps the spacey vibe with flighty synths dizzying and flashing between a snappy beat. It’s psychedelic at times as guitars whizz through Turner’s echoed vocals entrapping you into this subtly eccentric spectacle. The title track ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’ is Bowie-esque and bizarrely endearing as Turner’s vocals sweetly sprawl over glimmering keys and enigmatic guitars while aerial soundscapes thicken the track creating a suffocating, claustrophobic atmosphere that only the twinkling keys and sweet vocals can break through. ‘Golden Trunks’ presents us with the first pop tinged melody on the album as ominous instrumentation creates a dragging goosebump inducing horror movie sequence. ‘Four Out Of Five’ bounces a melty, honey drizzled melody and groovy rhythmic foundation off the lyrical theme of star ratings. It has a nice lush bridge with glistening keys and ethereal backing vocals which adds a feathery lightness to the vocals and to the rebound and buoyancy of the track. ‘The World’s First Ever Monster Truck Front Flip’ reminds me of Mini Mansions. It has that twisted mystifying obscurity that would fit perfectly on their self titled debut album.The dolly-esque keys with organ tones coated in a delicious melody with that dreamy hazy sun kissed vibe makes for an enthralling listen. There is some residue of the ‘Humbug’ album on the tracks ‘Science Fiction’ and ‘She Looks Like Fun’ the former with its cryptic mystery and psychedelic tinges however the alien pitched whines and creepy format places it firmly within the grasps of the magical world of the ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’ album. ‘Batphone’ returns to that bar lounge croon and laid back vibe while album closer ‘The Ultracheese’ glides with a 50/ 60’s -esque waltz. Filled with tenderness and delicacy it’s a sublime number that oozes and seeps passion in the most sweet sway- like manner. Romantically poised with a magnificent guitar feature that just sends swoony chills down your spine while trills on piano lifts it to heavenly heights. This sublime track brings the album to a majestic classy end.
‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’ will divide fans but then what good album doesn’t? This collection is a brilliant portrait of the most artistic era of Arctic Monkeys career so far. With a cinematic display that is a little bit uncommercial, stacking soundtrack- like atmospheric soundscapes alongside pop hued melodies, and some bizarre elements between. This collection is more mature and sophisticated. It’s like an aromatized, fortified wine, flavoured with various luscious components- that hits the spot.
Stream ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’ below
