Banks
"The Base"
Paul Banks begins his first solo record (sorta*) with a bang. The album as a whole is never better than its first four minutes, a humble groove-laden track called "The Base," though it does have several other high points and is generally an engaging listen, despite its plodding, almost mechanical aesthetic.
"The Base" begins with a lovely melody, which sounds like it's acoustic guitar fingerpicked and filtered through some effect that makes it sound serene and chilly at the same time. It reappears throughout the track, but what really carries the song is the groove it hits when the heavily distorted guitars and rich low end kick in. The album has a really catchy rhythm to it, and is impressively gritty with the guitar sounds packing a real punch. After a pretty beginning, it's a post-punk dance song for its final minute and a half.
I love how Banks' voice commands attention; it's definitely not for everyone. He sounds cold and unhuman, in a way, but it lends his lyrics a bit of oomph. It's as if an exclamation point follows every word, and though this isn't different from his vocals in Interpol, on this record he has more flexibility because he isn't confined to the typical rock band instrumentation and doesn't have to share creative control. It's interesting to hear Banks sound like this, and since I haven't had any real interest in his main band in at least half a decade, I wouldn't mind if he continued moving in this direction.
*He released one record as Julian Plenti in 2009, and I haven't heard it but this record makes me want to.
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