Before the band get down to work on their anticipated third album, Fratellis’ frontman, Jon Lawler, recently decided to take some temporary time-out from the Scottish-trio in order to focus on Codeine Velvet Club, his intriguing new side-project with female burlesque singer, Lou Hickey.
It appears that, as far as musical side-projects go right now, grand, 60’s orchestral sounds are favoured. It’s pretty hard to not draw comparisons between Alex Turner’s nostalgic Last Shadow Puppets and Lawler’s latest retro-fluenced project. ‘Vanity Kills’, Codeine Velvet Club’s new single, is a dramatically smoky number, aptly embracing those classic sounds of Spector and Scott Walker. Full on, epic-brass and hearty vocals gives the track a jazzy cinematic, From Russia With Love-atmosphere. The gender-alternating vocals, too, work very well – Lou’s shiney high voice being complimented immensely by Jon’s deep, dark drawl.
Admittedly, ‘Vanity Kills’ is uber over-produced and perhaps a little over-swish. The track has ‘Radio 2 friendly’ stamped all over it, but alas, it’s big and it’s brash, and if it’s your kinda thing, it’s real enjoyable listening.
Check out the video to ‘Vanity Kills’, below:
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:01 am
[...] say that some songs should never, ever be covered. Codeine Velvet Club (who Jess introduced the other week) have gone and broken the taboo and done just that. Check out their Pulp Fiction / James Bond style [...]