Paul Banks is Interpol’s frontman and lyricist, but the NYC goth-poppers’ musical manoeuvres originate with guitarist Daniel Kessler. This has helped the group maintain a consistent sound but has proven frustrating for Banks, who was an accomplished writer when he joined the band as singer in 2001.
He showed just how subtle a songsmith he can be on 2009’s Julian Plenti… Is Skyscraper. For the follow-up, he’s dropped the Plenti alter-ego and is going under his own name. Apart from that, the terrain is familiar: ‘The Base’ is a druggy, droney Interpol-esque affair; and ‘Young Again’ an efficient dirge driven by clanging guitars and Bank’s dolorous vocals. There are occasional surprises – ‘Over My Shoulder’ features what sounds like (but isn’t’) a crazed Jerry Seinfeld on an extended rant. Otherwise, Banks is exactly what you’d expect from the guy from Interpol – a pensive and thoughtful record of considerable heft. This is a record that rewards deep immersion and extended listening.