Looser Arctic Monkeys

2 months ago 27th Aug 13:15

Arctic Monkeys' new album has "more snake and leather".

The group say Queens of the Stone Age rocker Josh Homme - who produced some tracks on 'Humbug', their latest LP - encouraged them to play the songs with a more loose style and they are delighted with the results as it improved their abilities.

Bassist Nick O'Malley said: "There's a bit more musicianship than on the previous two records. The goal this time was to become more of a fluid unit, as far as the music goes, and I think on this third album, there's more of a musical evolvement than on the first two. There's a bit more snake, a bit more leather."

It was very motivational, because you think, 'It's Josh Homme. I don't want him to know how terrible I am, so I have to up my game slightly.' He made you want to be better on your instrument, so you didn't upset him.

The 'Crying Lightning' rockers loved getting the chance to work with Josh - as well as Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford - but admit they were so in awe of his musical abilities, they felt the need to work even harder than usual.

Nick explained to MTV News: "It was very motivational, because you think, 'It's Josh Homme. I don't want him to know how terrible I am, so I have to up my game slightly.' He made you want to be better on your instrument, so you didn't upset him."

Singer Alex Turner added: "I'd say what you've got there is James Ford, a bit of a Ghostbuster, ex Dreadlock, and Josh who takes a bit of a Bill Sykes approach to it. The way Bill Sykes would approach eating an apple — like with a dagger — Josh is like that with the task."