UNKLE - 'End Titles...Stories For A Film' (Surrender All) Released 04/08/08

Having undergone more line-up changes than Ronaldo’s latest WAG, UNKLE are now Pablo Clements and the ever-present James Lavelle. The list of collaborators is straight out of the top drawer as we’ve come to expect yet, in Lavelle’s own words, ‘End Titles…Stories For Film’ is ‘not a new album in the usual sense.’

A clue perhaps on the sleeve. UNKLE’s artwork has always been very deliberate and this album is no different. 3-D’s alien-like character from previous album ‘War Stories,’ is back but this time a lot more understated. A new album yes, but not one totally detached from the previous.

The bulk of the twenty-two tracks are made up by the score UNKLE produced for Alex Grazioli’s bio-flick on controversial director Abel Ferrara, who himself guests on the Bob Dylan-inspired ‘Open Up Your Eyes.’ Lasting but a minute, ‘Kaned and Abel’ is a masterpiece as it builds and falls with the finesse of a thousand racehorses before setting up the hard-hitting ‘Blade In The Back’ and the vocal delights of Gavin Clark.

Clark is back for no less than four tracks. ‘Can’t Hurt’ is like the first wave of breeze on the hottest day of the year. The arrangements are light and the beat insistent without taking over. Clark juxtaposes with Joel Cadbury (from the Lavelle-produced band South) and the affect is pure summer pop without being Radio 1.

Josh Homme also returns to sing on a vocal version of ‘Chemistry’ now called ‘Chemical,’ see what they did there? His famous whine gives the already eerie violins greater intensity leaving an altogether more fidgety affect. These three and ‘Synthetic Water’ were available as free downloads in the run up to release and let’s face it who doesn’t like a bit of free?

There’s still room for an extended version of ‘Trouble In Paradise’ – eagle-eye readers will recognise this from one of last year’s BMW adverts – and ‘Heaven,’  which featured on the Spike Jonze skate video ‘Fully Flared.’

The pick though is ‘24 Dreams.’ Succulent build-up sees a whir over a hypnotic 4x4 beat before the bleeps lead you into the oblivion-like head-**** usually reserved for the early hours. The angelic harmony that begins with a minute and half to go pushes you over the edge before the track stops dead leaving a happy-state of confusion paralleled perhaps only by John Darwin’s insurers. Written this time with Clements and brother Aidan, this could be the first indication of the new material mooted for release next year. More of the same and UNKLE fans could be dribbling wrecks by next summer. Happy ****ing days!

An album without a specific text, ‘End Titles’ is like a finger buffet without a queue. Fill ya boots!