No matter how much Miles Kane might like to think of himself as a solo act, the fact remains that he’s always struggled to emerge from the shadows of his more revered pals. He’s scored two number one albums with The Last Shadow Puppets, but those have to be viewed in the context of Alex Turner’s contributions. Of his own material, how much do you remember aside from a couple of chanty singalongs?
On ‘Coup de Grace’, his third full-length, Kane has enlisted the help of more big names, with the likes of Lana del Rey and Jamie T stepping in as co-writers. But rather than enhancing the overall quality of this new record, Kane’s exalted company only serves to highlight his lack of emotional and songwriting depth.
Here he presents the end of a relationship the way a cat might might parade the carcass of a dead bird.
There's not much in the way of subtlety, and you'd easily be forgiven for thinking he’s just regaling us with tales of lairy nights out in Liverpool (or is it L.A. now?). “I wanna vibe with you, get high with you, lose control,” he shouts on Wrong Side of Life.
There are a couple of slower tracks here that do elucidate Kane's relationship strife, but they're so painfully uninspired that it's easy to mistake them for something from a previous release.
Still, this record does surprise in some areas. For one, it benefits hugely from the talents of producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Swans), who has cleverly imbued the whole thing with a sparkle and sheen that draws out Kane’s glam sensibilities.
It is also quite fun. The title track marches forward like a carnival, its bouncy percussion and jagged guitar lines playing around each other like snake and charmer, while Cry on my Guitar shamelessly nods to the golden age of glam thanks to Marc Bolan-esque whispers and the Get It On rhythm mimicked almost to a tee. Kane just about gets away with it, too.
There are some out there who want ‘Coup de Grace’ to be the final blow for Kane but, while he may be more b-list than indie-elite, there’s nothing concrete here to suggest that he should bow out just yet.
Miles Kane Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu November 22 2018 - GLASGOW Barrowland
Fri November 23 2018 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy
Sat November 24 2018 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy
Mon November 26 2018 - NORWICH Norwich Nick Rayns LCR UEA
Tue November 27 2018 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute
Thu November 29 2018 - LEEDS O2 Academy Leeds
Fri November 30 2018 - HULL Hull University
Sat December 01 2018 - NEWCASTLE O2 Academy Newcastle
Mon December 03 2018 - BRISTOL O2 Academy Bristol
Tue December 04 2018 - LEICESTER O2 Academy Leicester
Thu December 06 2018 - LONDON O2 Academy Brixton
Fri December 07 2018 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Sat December 08 2018 - LIVERPOOL Liverpool Guild of Students - Mountford Hall
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