UNKLE - 'War Songs' (Surrender All) Released 09/07/07

If you thought that ‘War Stories’ would merely be a continuant of UNKLE’s previous two efforts, ‘Psyence Fiction’ and ‘Never Never Land’, then think again. Recorded in London, Los Angeles and most notably the eerily barren surroundings of the Californian desert, James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy have created a work that’s far distanced from their first two records. True it may feature the obligatory guest vocalists (including the familiar face of Josh Homme), but the duo have importantly explored avenues they’ve previously steered clear of. Gone are the overt flirtations with trip-hop of ‘Psyence Fiction’, the ambient electronica of ‘Never Never Land’ and in their place we have a more organic, earthy and direct album. In fact,  it’s easily the outfit’s most coherent work yet.

Opening with the scratchy vinyl recording of the aptly titled ‘1’, we’re then thrown heard first into the looming piano lines, dark strings, swirling guitars and rhythmic clatter of ‘Chemistry’, - a breathtaking track markedly devoid of any artificial instrumentation and a perfect prelude to things to come. This guitar fuelled element is continued with the, dare we say it, almost Kasabian-esque strut of ’Hold My Hand’ which swiftly transgresses into a hazy, drug addled rock dirge. All this before the typically snarling, gloriously petulant stomp of ‘Restless’, featuring everyone’s favourite ginger rocker Josh Homme. Indeed, on paper, some could accuse of UNKLE of taking a step backward in terms of experimentation, yet their triumph is taking well tried and tested formulae and making them fresh.