Miles Kane – Change the Show

Miles Kane returns with his fourth solo studio album, Change the Show, an experimental genre mash-up of Northern soul, Motown and his own brand of indie-rock that may prove to be his most grownup work yet.

Kane, upon returning to Bethnal Green having become disillusioned with his adopted home of Los Angeles, started to write tracks and record demos in the Hackney Studios of producer Jamie Biles for an album that would eventually lead to Change the Show. What this album would sound like, we may never know, as an impromptu post-lockdown recording session with his psych-rock duo neighbours Sunglasses for Jaws inspired the singer to re-record his album from the ground up. This iteration found a looser feeling than his previous demos, now bringing on board the duo, as well as multi-instrumentalist Joao Mello (sax/piano) and backup vocals from Holly Quin-Ankrah (known for her work in Liam Gallagher’s band) to reimagine the album. 

For the most part, the gamble in re-recording seems to have paid off: much of the record feels like it was birthed in a creative bubble with Kane at the helm, where tracks like Tell Me What You’re Feeling bring a frenetic energy that, for a moment, can fool listeners into believing that they’re witnessing an off-the-cuff live performance, full of improvisational spark and soulful bravado. 

The album’s singles, Don’t Let It Get You Down (featuring a surprise appearance from Paul O’Grady’s drag persona “Lily Savage” and scored with rapid-firing percussion and Latin rhythms) and the duet Nothing’s Ever Gonna Be Good Enough (with the ever-pitch-perfect Corinne Bailey Rae) set the tone for what’s to come – an experimental mash-up of tones and genre that emerges from Kane’s unique blend of trickling keys and slash of 60s surfer-rock-esque guitar vibrato. Further entries such as the aptly named Coming of Age (a poignant, piano-driven reflection on growing up) and the bluesy and soulful anthem Change the Show are standout tracks, and are an indication of what Kane can do it his absolute best. 

That isn’t to say this album is all-killer-no-filler: Never Get Tired of Dancing, a classic rock-inspired piece that feels a bit more John Travolta than John Lennon, and the jumpy Caroline struggle to stand out from the mix.

Change the Show is full of surprises, and fans may be hard-pressed to recognise Kane as the mod-rock, indie frontman who released 2018s Coup de Grace. Instead, they might find an artist that has embraced a new perspective on his work, diving head-first into his Motown influences while still retaining his own brand of indie twang, which results in an album that feels more refined than his previous output. 

Ronan Fawsitt

Change the Show is released on 21^st January 2022. For further information or to order the album visit Miles Kane’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Don’t Let It Get You Down here: