the album has lines of poetic lyrics and the production is terrific

An extended listen to Tranquillity Base Hotel and Casino, by Arctic Monkeys. It seems Alex Turner has a new Piano. I’ve listened to this in the car using the excellent Tidal smartphone App download, then, cutting the grass and now I’m listening properly on a pair of Focal Kanta speakers that are ordinarily rhythmic, exciting to listen to and otherwise mind blowing (review to follow). But, I’m just not getting this, there are no choruses, there is no foot tapping, there are no hooks (as I sit here), there is no structure and there is no fun (apart from BatPhone)?

Whilst the album has lines of poetic lyrics and the production is terrific, there is barely anything to hang onto here.

‘Star Treatment’ is the most interesting track, you’re immediately thinking, “wow this is different, left of left, cant wait ’til it takes off”, but it doesn’t. ‘One Point Perspective’ is daft starting with lyrics about dancing in underpants, apparently childish and presumably taking imagery from the cinema. The title track is slightly more bizarre, there is genuinely though an outer world, ‘Tranquillity Base’ (being the site of the first Moon landing) quality to this track and the album as a whole, indeed, maybe this lounge-rock-n-roll vibe is getting to me (I’m now on a fifth or sixth listen, though the new Beach House Album ‘7’ is really my preferred listen at the moment).

Overall, Tranquillity Base Hotel and Casino reminds me of the very forgettable ‘Heathen Chemistry’, released near the height of the Oasis ride. We’ve all got that album because it was Oasis but we’ve all forgotten it too. It feels like the same here I’m sad to say.   As I said, if you’re after melodic, well produced, low paced lounge-rock take a listen to ‘7’ by Beach House.

(The idea of my review method was to get a view from first listen, rating tracks individually and thus identifying classics early doors, however on repeated listen, this album is improving and may well grow on me, it is better than listening to the radio at the moment at any rate!)

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Star Treatment – ***

One Point Perspective – **

American Sports – ***

Tranquillity Base Hotel and Casino – ***

Golden Trunks – **

Four out of Five – ***

The World’s first ever Monster Truck Front Flip – **

Science Fiction – **

She looks like fun – **

Batphone – ***

The Ultracheese – **

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Album – Tranquillity Base Hotel and Casino

Artist – Arctic Monkeys
Released – 11th May 2018
Download This At Least – Star Treatment, BatPhone
Source – Tidal
Player – Naim NAC-N 272
Amplification/Output – NAP 250/Focal Kanta (Gaulois Blue!)

My Rating – 2.5