ARCTIC MONKEYS - Humbug
ARCTIC MONKEYS - Humbug
Written by Luke Oram   
Friday, 04 September 2009 10:29
Arctic Monkeys - Humbug When the media machine first discovered the ARCTIC MONKEYS, they were played as the grubby-faced Oliver Twists of the Sheffield scene. Discovered on the interweb and thrust from the clubs to the spotlight by the adoring masses, Yorkshire-drawling frontman Alex Turner was sly and endearing with his ‘Don’t believe the hype’ shtick.

Luckily for us the hype was entirely believable. Three chart-topping albums later, the working-class heroes known as Arctic Monkeys have etched themselves a tidy little niche as the unsuspecting champions of the English Garage-revival. The lads have also made a name for themselves as mischief-makers, their relationship with fame a love-hate fandango. Everything about their career has been on the Monkey’s terms – they’ve shunned labels for wanting to meddle in the backstreet social commentary that is Turner’s lyrics and the band often enjoy skipping major awards shows in lieu of a few quiets at home.
All this to say; Turner and Co.’s decision to enlist long-time hero Josh Homme to co-produce tracks from their new album ‘Humbug’ was typically left-field. It also begs this long-time question: what do you get when you mix telecaster-riffing industrial Sheffield punks with the drugged-out psychedelic brainchild behind Queens Of The Stone Age?

In this case, it’s a recipe for genius. ‘Humbug’ is yet another brilliant jaunt from the Monkey’s, set in the dark haunt of the Mojave Desert. Homme’s well known for leaving his sexy fingerprints all over the projects he produces and ‘Humbug’s' no exception - it’s a hybrid beast – the soul swagger of the Queens offset by Turner’s cockney bents. Lead single ‘Crying Lightning’ begins with a fuzzed-out bass-line and reverbed guitars with Turner’s heavily-accented pepper-shot vocals spat in the direction of a sticky English princess. ‘Dangerous Animals’ is where Homme’s influence comes to the fore, as guitarist Jamie Cook’s staccato guitar-work ducks and weaves through time signatures like a broken toy soldier, picking up where the progressive 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' left off. ‘Potion Approaching’ sounds like the English version of a ‘Rated R’ B-side, rollicking along with a ghostly chorus, descending into a plodding breakdown that sees Turner getting all Jim Morrison “Potion approaching…shield your eyes”; like only the Mojave Desert can.

‘Dance Little Liar’ is a sinister ballad that sneers over Matt Helders’ rolling drums and Nick O’Malley’s snaking bassline. ‘Pretty Visitors’ gets old-school Arctic, their Sheffield groove given a spooky carnival make-over as Turner spits poetic in his trademark style asking; “what came first, the chicken or the Dickhead?”.

‘Humbug’s a bit of a sexy Frankenstein.  The strange pairing is more than the sum of it’s parts, resulting in a dark and psychedelic take on the hit-maker’s signature sound – as they said themselves, the lads have gone “full-on Black Sabbath” for this one and it’s paid off in spades.
 

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