A great return happened on the 21st October: an English band known as Arctic Monkeys came back on the scene with an exquisite, heavily orchestrated album.
It took them 4 years to come up with a new release as the last album of the group was presented in May 2018. It is needless to say that Arctic Monkeys achieved an enormous shift in their creation. Let’s dive into it and carefully examine the path from their most essential album ‘AM’ to the latest release ‘The Сar’.
It is worth saying that even being initially a rock-band, Arctic Monkeys have tried themselves in a wide variety of genres. Their fifth studio album ‘AM’ (2013) appeared to be a mix of psychedelic rock, blues rock, hard rock, heavy metal, R&B, and soul. According to Alex Turner, the frontman, ‘AM’ was created to become more like a ‘studio album’ – not a garage one. New instruments such as organ, piano and vintage drum machine were incorporated on the album.
‘AM’ commemorated the beginning of a new era for Arctic Monkeys. Album planted itself as a reborning of the group. It was a potent manifistation. The group participants are not infantile teenagers anymore – they put on black ties, skinny-jeans and leather jackets. Here they are now, with a bottle of whiskey and a tremendous passion inside. Surrounded with a fleur of grange, bohemian drunkness and insanity, ‘AM’ struck as being one of the most successful and influential albums of the past decade.
Legendary ‘Do I Wanna Know?’ with its rapidly recognisable drumming space and guitar riff, ‘Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High’ turned out to be a controversial combo of R&B, funk and blues rock, ‘R U Mine?’ fulfilled with a rude and self-esteemed vibe – these are the tiny parts of a whole ‘AM’ drop.
Monkeys came up with the following release only five years after, in 2018. Written on an upright piano in a spare room, ‘Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino’ sums up the entire Arctic Monkey’s experience and rethinks the way of sound producing. Artists grow up out of pop-sounding switching their attention to the deeply-sounding, non-trivial concept:
Work significantly differs from the previous release ‘AM’ thanks to its absurd composition. Retro-futuristic atmosphere inside the album makes it feel like you go back to the good old days listening to authentic rhythms of a vinyl player. Such an effect is achieved by adding new instruments – dolceola, vintage synthesisers and keyboards. Now Arctic Monkey’s music seems to be more mature and glamourous.
‘Tranquility Base Hotel And Casino’ opens the door into the fascinating world of the France Mansion and arthouse cinema. ‘One Point Perspective’ is built around a “sweet” and “plucky” percussive piano motif, while ‘Four Out Of Five’ immerses the listener into the cosmic space Moon surface. The Multi-faceted album introduces unusual Monkeys to the sophisticated public.
Finally, after being regarded as the lost ones, Arctic Monkeys return into the industry with the brand-new album ‘The Car’ on the 21st October, 2022. Unfortunately, all of the singles are not available for Russian listeners. Regardless of that fact, people still try to find the opportunity to touch the beloved band. I will let the current article introduce the piece of Monkey’s creation to the wide Russian public.
So to say, ‘The Car’ is a confluence of refined sounding and elegant appearance. Fulfilled with an irreproachable orchestral accompaniment, the album becomes the most highly-qualified and carefully-made of all the previous works. One will not find the usual rock motives here. Although, the traditional guitar riff and drum play are still untaken.
Genres specific here vary from lounge to baroque pop and orchestral rock. The core leitmotiv of love, silent desire and doubt passes through the entire song-list. The key idea of the album represents that the simplest truths are the hardest ones to discover.
Undeniably, Alex Turner has mastered the skill of this tone both vocally and instrumentally. The Car does a fine job of reflecting his reminiscences with a murky warmth that’s like looking through the mists of time. Album settled down as a gorgeous combination of genres, experience and clear view. ‘There’d Better Be A Mirrorball’, the opening piece of the release, is a luxurious introduction to the rich world of the ‘new Monkeys’. ‘The Car’ reminds listeners of a tender love confession shrouded with nostalgia. ‘Sculptures Of Anything Goes’ comes out as the most colorit expression full of fundamental feelings inside it.
The path went by Arctic Monkeys through the teenage garage-rock to the luxurious baroque and lounge sounding is a startling example of how almost 20 years of music production might transform the initial way of self-expressing. To be frank, it is sad to realize the absence of Monkeys on the Russian field for the time being. However, now all the fans are able to have an online or even offline adventure in search of the beloved singers’ LPs and CDs.
