Nonesuch レコード& CD

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 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.