The Black Keys - Oceans and Streams (Universal)
4/5
By: Michael Cragg
BUY DOWNLOAD'Oceans and Streams' is the third single from Black Keys' fifth album, Attack and Release, an album that nestled inside the top 15 on both sides of the Atlantic when it was released in April this year. Its success can partly be attributed to the fact that it's produced by a certain Danger Mouse, a man who has worked with everyone from Martin Topley-Bird to Beck, from The Rapture to Sparklehorse. But having big name producers does not a good album make (ask Madonna), and for everything Danger Mouse brings to the table (and it's a lot), the real key element is the songs.
In the past the Black Keys have been bundled together with The White Stripes, both bands having two members, colours in their names, lots of hair and a penchant for dirty garage blues. On 'Oceans and Streams'- and most of Attack and Release - the Black Keys look to dispel this comparison, bringing in gorgeous organ refrains and a subtlety missing from most of their back catalogue. They've also got a looseness that Jack White's band can't always nail, and musically 'Oceans and Streams' calls to mind a slightly stoned Cold War Kids. It also contains a brilliant chorus, singer Dan Auerbach crooning as only he can "Oh, I used to dream/ Of oceans and streams...where have all those days gone?"
Purists may have balked at the thought of a band like the Black Keys working with a man who was partly responsible for perfect pop singles such as 'Crazy' or 'DARE', but Danger Mouse is no ordinary, run of the mill producer. What he's done with the Black Keys is add some colour to a palette that was bordering on the monochrome, allowing the band to step out of their comfort zone and explore new musical directions, but at the same time remain the same band. Whether they work with Danger Mouse again is a moot point, his work here is done.
Artists in this article: The Black Keys
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