On his latest album, ‘Sunlight In The Shadows’, Miles Kane dives into the blues with an energetic stadium anthem. It’s grand and pulsating, almost serving as the soundtrack to a summer journey along Route 66.
Kane collaborated with Grammy-winning Dan Auerbach, known primarily as the frontman of The Black Keys. Auerbach introduces a bluesier, more liberated sound to the album than listeners might anticipate from Kane’s previous works.
Miles Kane mentions that he and Auerbach share a similar musical language, referencing T. Rex, Motown, and The Easybeats in their early discussions about the album’s direction. “Our tastes were so alike it was almost unnerving, and you can sense that mutual enthusiasm in the music. I’m eager to take it on tour. It's an album meant for live performances,” he stated.
The standout track is the psych-rock piece ‘Slow Death’, narrating a drug addict’s desperate appeals to his Hollywood physician, reminiscent of Marc Bolan’s ‘Cosmic Dancer’ and John Lennon’s ‘Doctor Robert’ for the modern era. In contrast, ‘Blue Skies’ conveys a subtly English charm, adding a gentleness to the album that is otherwise hard to find.
‘Coming Down The Road’ resembles an old-school film score: expansive and thunderous, akin to Herbie Hancock. This is one track that CLASH is excited to experience live; it’s crafted for the stadium setting. The confident swagger of ‘Sing A Song To Love’ showcases Kane’s seasoned artistry: the confidence within the song compels you to envision its narrator in a sharp sharkskin suit, slightly spilling his drink as he invites a toast to love. The character portrayals on ‘Sunlight In The Shadows’ are remarkable.
The album cover exudes a quintessentially all-American vibe, despite Kane’s origins in Birkenhead. He reflects on his past through the motorbike’s rearview mirror. You can almost spot Alabama and Clarence from True Romance just out of sight, riding down the dirt road and yelling in excitement.
Kane touches on messianic themes in the album’s closing track, ‘Walk On The Ocean’, with its smooth, jazz-club vibes making it an ideal concluding piece. “I want to walk on the ocean, I want to see in the dark,” Miles sings softly. “I want to cause a commotion, and I know exactly where to begin.” It’s a breathtaking closing for an album that hits you like a sudden rush of adrenaline.
8/10
Words: Kate Jeffrie
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On his newest album, 'Sunlight In The Shadows', Miles Kane takes on the blues with a powerful stadium anthem. It’s vibrant and pulsating, and conveys