We've had the weekend to digest it - the new Arctic Monkeys track dropped from nowhere Friday evening. A startled NME.com claimed to have "discovered" it by accident, though the FaceBook update from Arctic Monkeys' official page directing you toward the website couldn't have hurt at all...
What to make of it? The surprise of the track actually landing from nowhere was one thing, though the shock of how it sounds surpassed that no end.
At just 2:57, the track tears through a ferocious vocal, a real 60s vibe and a slow bridge, before ending in the now familiar "brick by brick" refrain at the end in no time at all.
Early on, the sound is startling: Turner's vocal is near unrecognisable - this sounds more akin to Josh Homme or perhaps Jesse Hughes. The desert feel is all over this: the time the band spent with Josh Homme has proven to pivotal in their sound.
From here, the song takes in a proper 1960s sound - if you checked out Turner's cohort Miles Kane's solo efforts then it might all sound quite familiar.
It is yet another brave sidestep from the band. Lauded with plaudits following their blistering debut, the band have been the subject of much split opinion on the back of albums two and three, though I must say I think each step has been a perfect one. Turner's vocal no longer sits in realm of cynical social commentator, but genuine poet, while the heavier sound that has accompanied each album has been nothing short of brilliant.
Brick by Brick does not initially grab with the same ferocity as I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor or Brianstorm, but neither did Crying Lightning and that led to a stunning album, dripping in sexual tension and maturity. Here's hoping...
Initially unclear whether or not the track would form part of any upcoming work, Matt Helders has since confirmed that it is a teaser of what is to come. We know that an album is on the horizon (produced by Simian Mobile Disco frontman James Ford), and the band are set for a number of summer dates including a headline slot at Oxegen 2011, so all the signs point to album number four from the Sheffield quartet dropping sooner rather than later.
Check out the single below and let me know what you think.
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