The Black Keys - Strange Times
[Vacuous Pop Recordings]

Producer Danger Mouse has done an amazing job in transforming The Black Keys for their fifth album Attack & Release, pushing his hip-hop / funk / soul background onto a duo whose heads are usually occupied with blues and rock.

Part of their attraction of the band, has been the minimal set-up of just drums and guitar, stripped back to the roots of rock, but here, Danger Mouse has given the instruments new muscle, somehow filling the gaps and empty space their more lo-fi back catalogue possesses. The guitars are cranked up and then some, bordering metal and the drums, well they've taken on a new life; huge and pounding glam-like, surrounded by crashing cymbals, hand-claps and hi-hats. Daniel Auerbach's voice is tampered with slightly, adding a soulful touch and during the refrain, twinkling piano ivories pave way for theremin and disquieting backing vocals, that contribute to the imagery of the song's title, Strange Times.

The single does command a lot of attention and if it wasn't for the vocals, you could even imagine this being a big hit for The White Stripes. With the Danger Mouse name behind them and Strange Times being such an instant record, things are already looking up for The Black Keys. It's just a shame it has taken five albums to get this far.

7" Track Listing:

A. Strange Times
B. Something On Your Mind