Ash & Ice
Insidious synths light up the Anglo-American duo’s spry fifth record. The Anglo half—Jamie Hince—sought solace in synths and electronica after a gnarly time with the tendons in his left hand left him questioning his guitar-playing future. This enforced sonic detour has rejuvenated his band. “Doing It to Death” melds the pair’s trademark lascivious guitars and fevered Alison Mosshart vocal with spare and hypnotic beats, the writhing “Days of Why and How” has dancehall inflections, while “Impossible Tracks” is an exultant gospel guitar blowout.
Ash & Ice is the follow-up to 2011’s critically-lauded Blood Pressures and was five years in the making in part due to Jamie Hince’s five hand surgeries. The 13 songs on Ash & Ice are more understated, less tempestuous and more affecting because of that, exposing the kind of push-pull you feel when you find yourself in a complicated but all-consuming relationship.
Ash & Ice is The Kills’ first album in five years and they encompass everything they’ve done before, as well as bringing in boombox beats with Brazilian and Afro-pop influences.
The Kills' unguarded vulnerability is willfully offered up alongside their creative potency throughout their fifth record.
Andy Gill reviews this week’s new releases from The Kills, Cat's Eyes, Maarja Nuut, Minor Victories and more
The sound may be a little fuller on The Kills' fifth album, but singles Doing It to Death and Heart of a Dog suggest that we’ve travelled this way before.
Every record that Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince have produced together as The Kills has been laden with a palpable tension that simmers between the two writing partners.
'Ash & Ice' by The Kills, album review by Matthew Wardell. The full-length comes out June 3rd on Domino Records. The Kills play June 4 in San Francisco
The Anglo-American duo return after an injury-induced five year break. DVD new music review by Guy Oddy