(Remote Control/Matador)

Interpol mainman makes solo album. Realises ‘Paul Banks’ is a boring as fuck name and voila….

Your humble reviewer stands in solidarity with his Rave colleagues on many issues, but here’s where I differ from the vast majority of our sterling editorial staff and contributors – I don’t much care for Interpol [Um … not sure if we do that much either – sitting-on-the-Interpol-fence-Ed]. They sure don’t suck, but I found their updated Joy Division grandstanding got pretty old circa Our Love To Admire. The time’s probably about right, then, for a solo record. Singer Paul Banks has become Julian Plenti and changes a few of the elements familiar to Interpol listeners. Firstly, the “exterminaaate” vocals are toned down a tad, adding a dreaminess to the string-soaked ballad. Skyscraper. Even when he goes for the angular, minor key rock of his famous band (as in Games For Days), his more understated, breathy vocals make the tune sound a great deal more sensual than the steely angst of Interpol. There’s a touch of Massive Attack to the treated drums, sparse piano and haunting cellos of No Chance Survival, an endearing Men Without Hats goofiness to Unwind and, who’d have guessed it, spooky psychedelic folk in On The Esplanade. In fact, as soon as the album opens with Only If You Run, a Human League-meets-Death Cab For Cutie swoon-worthy tune, it’s immediately apparent that our Julian is enjoying dabbling in a different array of sounds and styles. And you’ll enjoy wallowing in it….

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MATT THROWER

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