The Colour of the Trap is the debut solo offering from former Rascals frontman Kane, who enjoyed considerable success alongside Alex Turner in The Last Shadow Puppets. Like TLSP, Kane’s solo output channels a distinctive mixture of Scott Walker, Bowie, Ennio Morricone, The Beatles and ’60s psychedelia.
There is a strong soundtrack feel to this album, and indeed you could picture one or two of the more Morricone-indebted tracks surfacing in the Tarantino film. Kane also isn’t averse to the odd straight-forward lad-rock anthem, such as ‘My Fantasy’, a three-chord, lighters-aloft tune which, fittingly, features backing vocals from the genre’s spiritual godfather, Noel Gallagher. Co-produced by Hot Chip/Franz Ferdinand man Dan Carey, Super Furry Animal Gruff Rhys and Gorillaz collaborator Dan The Automator, The Colour of the Trap also boasts a guest appearance from Kane’s TLSP wingman Turner on the rocking ‘Telepathy’.
Featuring infectious rhythms and catchy melodies throughout, this album certainly doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s still an enjoyable listen.