Miles Kane seems to have been with us for an age. Surprisingly Colour of the Trap is Kane’s debut solo LP having already released records with The Little Flames, The Rascals and grandiose ’60s side-project, The Last Shadow Puppets, alongside Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys.
It was with the later that the Wirral-born musician really discovered a deep and abiding love for the ’60s. Turner’s help is enlisted again with Gruff Rhys and Noel Gallagher also lending a hand as we are whisked on a whirlwind trip through a spooky ’60s parallel universe.
Not since the emergence of The Bees has ’60s psych-soul sounded so fresh; authentically swathed in twangs and spooky feedback and atmospheres. It is a record of juxtaposition, finding a balance between the ladish swagger and pulse-raising rock’n’roll riffs of ‘Come Closer’and ‘Inhaler’ with swooning heartfelt love songs ‘Take The Night From Me’ and ‘My Fantasy’.
One of the albums highlights ‘Quicksand’, is a happy-go-lucky indie-pop freak out, of the ilk of The Coral or Echo & The Bunnymen. Like these one of Kane’s greatest assets is his distinctive Merseyside drawl, which dictates the pace ‘Rearrange’ ‘Kingcrawler’ and ‘Colour of the Trap’.
While his musical vision resides firmly in the ’60s Colour of the Trap it is fresh and full of wit, charisma and charm. It isn’t a masterpiece but it is an enjoyable record with equal measures of brilliantly executed explosive indie rock, cheery pop and touching love songs. A great combination.