The direction of this album has split Arctic Monkeys fans more than any album before.
The Sheffield Chip-Shop Rock N Roll is a million miles back on earth, with Arctic Monkeys comfortably on the moon, enjoying their stay at Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (Tranquility Base being the name for the first moon landing). Originally penned as an Alex Turner solo album, Jamie Cook’s guitar managed to gift us all a space-ride through Turner’s consciousness. Turner has traded in his Guitar for a Piano, giving us a mature sound, unlike any Arctic Monkey’s albums before.
There is nothing unusual for Turner writing the whole of The Monkeys’ album, but this is truly a delve into his mind. Their last album, AM, was a huge success, with songs along the lines of The Monkeys tradition of the frustration that comes with love. This album is truly on the moon in comparison to past greats like Favourite Worst Nightmare and AM. But, people I am here to say that this is a good thing. It is not 2006 or 2013, these lads are not in their twenties going clubbing in Sheff. They are weekend rockstars, in the toilet, practicing their lines.
It is 2018 and we live in a strange world, where we have a reality-star as leader of the Free World (in Golden Trunks) and strange technological advancements that are changing the way we interact with each another. These lads are happily, with Bowie, on the moon commenting on this strange thing they can see called Earth. Unlike previous albums which were about clubs, girls and fights; this is a ride through Turner’s conscious and a window into his thoughts. It’s a vast over-haul from what we are used to and if you haven’t been listening to Turner in The Last of the Shadow Puppets, you would be ignorant to where he is musically.
Turner’s style is maturing, in every sense of the word. They released all the songs at the same time as an album, Tranquillity Base Hotel & Casino. This leads to the logic that it was designed, like albums were once-upon-a-time, to be listened to from the beginning to end. The transition from song to song are so smooth you could be tricked into the thinking it was one big track. The subtly of Matt Helders drums are appropriate for the album and Nick O’Malley’s Bass is a re-occurring highlight throughout. Cook’s guitar blends very well with the Jazz vibes coming from Turner’s Piano. His voice is, as always, alluring. Taking us to his strange Hotel in the cosmos.
This album is unique and needs to be listened in a manner of ways. It is an album you need to give time, patience whilst upholding an open mind. The maturity of the music will grow on you, in a way where it will not let you leave Turner’s mind. Everyone has their expectations with these lads, so it’s a guarantee that people want nostalgia, however, that’s just not them now. All the greatest bands ever evolve musically and Arctic Monkeys are no different.
Turner said in an interview with Annie Mac, that he picked up the guitar and knew where it was going to go. I want the artist to be expressing themselves through their sound, not re-producing an early version of themselves which they are just not anymore. This album is bold and experimental; by September when they tour, we might all want to visit the moon.
You can listen to Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino on Spotify.
By James Evans
What to expect from Arctic Monkeys – “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino”