Are solo projects from musicians in
established musical acts doomed to be mirror images of their day
jobs, or is it an opportunity to do something completely out of the
blue that never have worked in their other bands? Banks, from
Interpol front man Paul Banks, answers that question with another
question: can't it be both? Banks (the
album) is a statement in which Banks (the man) embraces his
own musical identity as a detached entity from Interpol and it yields
some interesting results. The clue is in the album's title and the
fact that he is no longer using the Julian Plenti pseudonym, having
previously released an album and an EP under that name over the past
few years. This change has allowed him to finally take center stage
with no fake name to protect him from the slings and arrows of
notoriety. For now at least Banks is running his ambitions up the
flag pole to see who salutes.
There are certainly some
Interpol-flavoured songs here (such as 'Over My Shoulder and 'Paid
For That') but the more familiar concepts are presented in a new
light which only Banks by himself could muster. Guitar driven tunes
carry a new cinematic edge that elevates them above the New York
industrial chic of Turn On The Bright Lights. Banks is perhaps
giving us a glimpse into his own CD collection with every song that
passes. U2, Joy Division, and Kraftwerk, make for strange bedfellows
but manage to co-exist on lead single 'The Base'. Electric,
electronic, and organic instruments mesh together to make a dizzying
tapestry of soul-baring tales. The instrumental 'Lisbon' is a breath
of fresh air amidst the gloom – a meandering piece that evokes the
technicolour landscapes of classic cinema and gives the audience a
small break from Banks' claustrophobic drone.
Ultimately, Banks is an
excursion into one man's mind, heart, and soul. The strongest moments
come when he is less fussed about densely layered arrangements and
let us slip right to the core of the songs. 'Summertime Is Gone'
closes the album in a gorgeous, heart warming fashion. While it might
be an uneven album there is plenty in there for Interpol fans to love
and for everyone else to wonder at and, perhaps, even love too.
Rating: B+
Recommended tracks: The Base, Summertime Is Gone
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