Album of the week: Let it Reign by Carl Barat and The Jackals
Carl Barat and The Jackals
Cooking Vinyl Ltd
With his recent lacklustre solo effort coming and quickly going almost unnoticed, sees Barat return to the bravado of brotherhood and reignites his deep fascination with The Clash. Coming out with guns blazing, opener , with its whiff of over spiky guitars and a ska-esque beat, sees Barat at his exhilarating best when channeling his inner Strummer. It's a rousing tribute to the 300-plus soldiers shot for desertion during the first world war and the "us versus them" theme continues throughout.
The Libertines' shadows looms largest over the reckless , crunching guitars and triumphant horns backing up Barat's snarl, "We are not afraid of anyone/ I defy anyone to tell me I am wrong". Recorded in Los Angeles with The Bronx's guitarist Joby J Ford, the raw live production only serves to strengthen the defiant spirit of the punchy punk gems.
There are strong nods to Barat's turbulent relationship with ex-best mate Doherty, most notably on ("It has to be now or never/ Sooner or later it has to end") and the fuzzed-out ("You're the greatest friend for me/ You're the only friend to me/ Nobody cares for me like you do"). It's hardly a radical departure from Barat's usual call-to-arms manifesto, but it bodes well for the return of the unpredictable turmoil that surrounds The Libertines.
