It may be half a decade since The Kills graced us with their Blood Pressures album and its more produced take on their original grubby punk blues sound. The wait for something new has been largely due to Jamie Hince undergoing several operations on his hand, and consequently having to relearn how to play his guitar, rather than to any great sonic re-evaluation and revamping of their shtick. For, despite band claims to the contrary, not that much has changed and Ash and Ice, like its predecessor, is a not-too-glossy bluesy art-rocker that exudes angst and misery and a more than slightly practiced cool.
While there may be hints of Yeah Yeah Yeahs arty rock and Garbage’s easily digested alt-rock on the likes of “Hard Habit to Break” and “Siberian Nights”, “Doing It to Death”, “Heart of a Dog” and plenty of others see The Kills in more familiar scuzzy punk blues territory. Ash and Ice, however, does also see part-time Dead Weather girl Alison Mosshart and Hince try their hand at some more atmospheric torch songs. “Days of When and How” even suggests a more sleazy take on the Lana Del Rey sound of Ultravolence, and “Echo Home” brings a twanging, almost Hawaiian guitar shimmering into play over a mournful groove. It is piano ballad “That Love” that really catches the attention though, with a somewhat glum Mosshart wailing “That love you’re in is all fucked up/That love is done” over Hince’s tasteful playing.
They may still have the air of sulky fashion students dressed up in Royal Trux’s old threads but The Kills’ maturing sound is one that suits them. It could even prove a commercial breakthrough – given the right push.
