Album Review: Miles Kane, One Man Band

Miles Kane comes galloping out of the stalls on album opener and lead single ‘Troubled Son’, its breakneck pace propelling the Liverpudlian through a heady tune. It’s also, perhaps, something of a purge of last year’s Motown-style Change the Show.

The accompanying James Slater-directed video – which was shot at Kane’s local, the Young Prince boozer in Bethnal Green, and features actor James Buckley – captures him at his most congenial. Despite its title, One Man Band is something of a family affair, having been recorded back in Kane’s native Liverpool with cousins Ian and James Skelly, the latter being frontman of The Coral and a longtime Kane collaborator of Kane. Blossoms’ Tom Ogden and Keiran of Circa Waves also form part of the creative mob.

The chipper form continues into ‘Never Taking Me Alive’, while ‘The Wonder’ boasts a catchy riff and chorus – it will be coming soon to a festival field near you. ‘Baggio’ is about the iconic Italian footballer, and I recommend checking out the short film Searching For Baggio, which documents a nervous Kane visiting The Divine Ponytail himself at his home in Vicenza.

Elsewhere ‘Ransom’ roams The Last of the Shadow Puppets territory, while ‘Heal’ is reminiscent of Ian Brown’s marvellous Mersey rocking style soul. It’s another highlight on a splendid album.

8/10