THE BLACK KEYS Schallplatten & CDs

Review: It's only been two years - well, actually, not even that - since we last had an album from The Black Keys. No matter which clock you're looking at, though, fresh work from the Ohio duo can never get here soon enough, and from where we're sitting it sounds like Ohio Players is up there with the greatest records the band have given us. It also proves they're capable of constant reinvention, without risking that clear blues-garage identity. With guest appearance from rapper Lil Noid, legendary guitarist Beck, and Brit-indie icon Noel Gallagher, there's no disguising myriad influencing factors are at play. Yet, across the 14 pieces here, there's something wonderfully, unmistakably Black Keys happening. A thing to savour and submit to in equal measure, then.

Review: Delta Kream is the 10th studio album from now well established Ohio rock outfit The Black Keys. It is one that distinctly looks back to their pre-formation roots as the group play eleven Mississippi hill country blues standards that they have loved since they were teenagers. The songs were recorded at Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville with musicians Kenny Brown and Eric Deaton - who played with bands who were involve with many of the original songs - also included in the sessions. Songs by R. L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough, among others, are included to make this a lovely listen.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


It's been a solid five years since the epic sounds of America's best plugged-in rock duo last electrified our ears. And be it a reference to the Rolling Stones or even Scorsese, the album turns it up from the start with "Shine A Little Light". Big time rhodes and bluesy folk mentalities are then wrapped up in a low-slung ballad that is "Walk Across The Water". Some fans may still be yearning for the raw energy that catapulted the duo into the limelight with Magic Potion, however high voltage sounds can still be found on tracks like "Under The Gun" and "Lo/Hi" - with gospel elements in this case edging to the fore. Overall there's a slight dance element protruding from this LP in comparison to previous records, begging the question: Can you dig it!

Review: During The Black Keys surprise revival of recent years, much of their music has been produced by Dangermouse. While he played no role on the duo's new album, Ohio Players - their 12th in total - his influence remains in the inventiveness of the production. The pair's new-found love of collaboration remains too, with Beck credited as co-writer on roughly half of the album's tracks. His influence is obvious in the funkiness and fuzz-fuelled psychedelia of 'This Is Nowhere' and 'Don't Let Me Go', as well as the quirky, horn-sporting cheeriness of 'Beautiful People (Stay High)' and the low-slung, effortlessly funky indie-rap hedonism of 'Paper Crown' (where he appears on vocals alongside Juicy J. The band's wholehearted love of hip-hop is also explored on the excellent Lil Noid collaboration 'Candy & Her Friends'.

Review: It's been a solid five years since the epic sounds of America's best plugged-in rock duo last electrified our ears. And be it a reference to the Rolling Stones or even Scorsese, the album turns it up from the start with "Shine A Little Light". Big time rhodes and bluesy folk mentalities are then wrapped up in a low-slung ballad that is "Walk Across The Water". Some fans may still be yearning for the raw energy that catapulted the duo into the limelight with Magic Potion, however high voltage sounds can still be found on tracks like "Under The Gun" and "Lo/Hi" - with gospel elements in this case edging to the fore. Overall there's a slight dance element protruding from this LP in comparison to previous records, begging the question: Can you dig it!