Having once again returned to hip-hop auteur and super producer Danger Mouse for the production credits after 2008’s Attack & Release, and their most successful industry acclaimed album to date, last year’s Brothers in between, it is clear from the outset that The Black Keys have reverted back to some of the elements that have worked so well for them in the past. But what is noticeably different is a back to basics aesthetic on El Camino; a driving, raw rock’n’roll sound that draws on a range of ’60s and ’70s stylised drumbeats and bass lines that create an overall structured and well-thought out album from start to finish.
Leading single Lonely Boy, that is already getting a smashing on the airwaves and lots of love online within weeks of its release, begins like a bull out of a gate, with its bellowing guitar riff followed by the introduction of hand-clapping drums and a touch of playful harpsichord that makes for a well-concocted shake-it-out and dance anthem to kick things off. However, an addictive single is not the only strength on the record – any one of the 11 tracks on the album could easily stand alone, it is merely a hint of what else is in-store. Indeed, raw guitar, head-bopping drums and echoing, reverbed vocals continue throughout the album, with tracks Dead And Gone and Little Black Submarines having a mellower vibe, starting slow to build up to distorted guitar licks, chanting full-bodied choruses and a whole lot of tambourine. The hip-shaking moments however, do not stop there. Leading into the second half of the release, the layered choir style chorus’ underpinning most tracks give it a uniquely Delta-tinged gospel feel, and tracks like Money Maker and Run Right Back about fast women and wayward love give it just the right amount of depth to keep things upbeat. A number of new elements like disco-synth in Sister, and a reminiscently reggae feel to track Hell Of A Season, are seamlessly combined with a ’70s psychedelic influence on the hypnotising closing track, Mind Eraser.
Needless to say, El Camino is an all-killer no-filler collection of the grungy, raw rock’n’roll that is The Black Keys signature. The hero of the album in its entirety is the guitar; Auerbach’s skill to make it rip the way it does is refreshing and satisfying with hip-shaking solos on almost every track. Even the quieter moments on the album, with its notes of light and shade make it an enjoyable listening experience, with the ability to engage with every track. And if it’s some mind-bending, sing-it-out musical therapy you’re after, it has that too. Auerbach’s striking vocals and use of howling falsetto on certain tracks pack a punch in the midst of bass-laden riffs and driving drum lines, while containing a greater pop sensibility that highlights an evolved approach from one of the most exciting partnerships on the world stage right now.
Best Track: Lonely Boy
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Brothers THE BLACK KEYS, Longtime Wait THE RICHARD WHITTINGTON ADVENTURE
In A Word: Raw.
