Alexander Sklar

Friday, November 02, 2007

Keane - Under the Iron Sea - Atlantic

So I've been listening to Keane's latest album, "Under the Iron Sea". I must say...wow :), there are some remarkable tracks here, the first one that pops to mind is "Atlantic"

Let's see; when I first heard Atlantic, I thought "hmm, this is weird...I could swear I've already heard something like it". And it was true, the fact being that the 4/4 metric played in sextuplets by the drums, which gives the sort of pushing-back feel to the beat of the song, since every repetition of the intro pattern falls on a different beat each time (believe me, it's easier to understand this by listening to the song :) but it's like having to wheels of different radii turning against each other. At a certain point, they meet again.)
Aside from the not-so-weird metric effect, there is a very nice and abrupt change in the first part of the song. The song goes Bmaj7 - Emaj7 - Bb7 - Ebm/Gb. The change from Emaj7 to Bb7 is very strong (a tritone change), which is enhanced as the song grows by ethereal electronic sounds and a strings base. Very Radiohead-y.

There's a part where the song changes direction "and if I need anything at all". This sounds more like it could be something from U2.
The last part worth mentioning musically is "sing you to your sleep". There's a very classical "Disney"-like passage by going to that diminished chord, something nostalgic, pure, almost epiphanic, with the ending "the day's beginning".

The lyrics are on a league of their own. They are so dark and depressing it's brilliant :D They transmit fear, despair, but at the same time, hope and expectation.

The vocals float very nicely as in most Keane tracks, almost cherub-like. I like the distorted sound of the bassline, reminiscent of Bjork's Army of Me, or even some of Skunk Anansie's stuff, sans the violence :). The Wurlitzer piano sound choice is golden, a surgical sound, filled with angst. Luvvv it :)

Here's the music video. Enjoy.