REVIEW: Miles Kane - Coup De Grace

The last time we saw Miles Kane bring out any music was in 2016, when he brought back The Last Shadow Puppets with Alex Turner. Now, he has ventured back out on his own, bringing out his third solo album, Coup De Grace.

The follow up to 2013's Don't Forget Who You Are, Coup De Grace has been what Miles Kane fans have been waiting for. Okay, they did have The Last Shadow Puppets to keep them going but it had been a long wait to hear any new solo material. Well now...that wait is over.

Coup De Grace, french for the final Blow, is actually named, according to Kane, after a move made famous by WWE's Finn Balor. Kane himself is known to be a fan of wrestling, showing his love for the sport by once dressing up as Ric Flair for Halloween. Not only this, he also managed to get Finn Balor to star in the music video for his latest single, Cry On My Guitar.




However, it is not only WWE that has had influence on this album: it is also clear that musical influences have been involved. For example, Cry On My Guitar has a slight Muse influence, which makes sense considering Kane was part of a Beatles tribute band called Dr Pepper's Jaded Hearts Club Band, where Matt Bellamy played on bass. Additionally, you can tell the album was co-written with Jamie T, from listening to songs like Too Little Too Late, Sliverscreen and Wrong Side of Life, which have the familiar Jamie T sound. You could also argue that The Fall have played a part in providing inspiration for this album: The Last Shadow Puppets had previously covered The Fall's Totally Wired for their Dream Synopsis EP.

The other thing worth noting about this album is this is obviously a break up album.  From the lyrics in Loaded, co-written by Lana Del Rey,  "My baby's always threatening to leave" to those in Wrong Side of Life: "Oh I'm a wreck/ I'm sitting all alone, I feel like I'm fighting for you." Of course, there is also the obligatory ballad, in the form of Killing the Joke, along with fellow slow-ish song Shavambacu. In fact, Kane joked in an interview with the BBC that this was going to be his Adele record.

Overall, this album is a lot more guitar filled then his last two, Colour of the Trap (2011) and Don't Forget Who You Are? (2013), but Coup De Grace has allowed Kane to evolve further. Indeed, he is often seen by people as Alex Turner's hanger on but this album has proved that this is definitely not the case!

****

Miles Kane is Back!

Hello!

I can already hear quite a few people thinking "He has been back since late 2015!" Yeah...erm...that was The Last Shadow Puppets guys. I'm saying he is back regarding his solo career, with his last album, Don't Forget Who You Are being released in 2013. Well, recently. he unveiled a new song, Loaded, which was Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac's Hottest Record on Monday (16th April).

I have to admit something: I had only really been a fan of Kane within The Last Shadow Puppets and before that, I had only heard of one song, which was Don't Forget Who You Are (thanks New Look!).  However, seeing as I like The Last Shadow Puppets, I thought I would listen to Annie Mac's show to hear Loaded and see what I think...and I thought it was quite good.




During his interview with Annie Mac, he gave an insight in the making of the single and his upcoming album Coup de Grace (named after a wrestling move), revealing that he had recorded with Jamie T and Lana Del Rey.  In fact from what I have heard from Jamie T, it is clear that he has had some influence when listening to Loaded and do I detect a bit of Last Shadow Puppets sound as well? Yep...I do.

Of course, the inevitable question came: is Alex Turner involved with Miles' new album? Well, surprisingly, Turner is not present on the album but he has been busy with something else... However, this will allow Miles to show that he is not just Alex Turner's best friend; he is a musician in his own right.

Overall, judging by Loaded, we can expect good things from Coup de Grace, and with Kane being announced to play various festivals and announcing a limited number of free 7" vinyl copies of the Coup de Grace single being available in various record stores across the UK, to celebrate Record Store Day, anticipation for the new album has already begun!

All I can say is bring on the new album!

Em x