Alex Turner goes 60s

Producer tells us how his side project is sounding

06 Feb 08 - The much talked about side project from Alex Turner looks set for release this April, and, according to its producer, it doesn’t sound much like the Arctic Monkeys.

The Sheffield four-some’s frontman has written an album with his friend Miles Kane from the Rascals, and we’ve been told it’s set for release this April.

Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford produced it, following his work behind the desk on the Arctic’s second album.

Speaking exclusively to 6 Music, he said Alex’s album is now completely finished and should be out in April.

"It sounds instantly more classic, like a big album"
Matt Helders

He also gave us an insight into what it sounds like: “It’s quite different sounding than the Arctics’ I think.”

“It’s kind of quite sort of ‘Sixties-y’ and really good songs and there’s a lot of orchestration and stuff.”

Speaking to 6 Music back in December, Arctic Monkeys’ drummer Matt Helders also said the record has a distinct sound of its own.

“It’s obviously different to what we do: it’s more epic. It sounds instantly more classic, like a big album. It’s got brass on it, it’s got strings. Its more like a ‘big thing.’”

But despite being pleased with the result, James Ford doesn't think the duo will turn the collaboration into a long term project: “It’s just a little side project for Al really.”

“They’re just a bunch of songs that him and Miles wrote together that didn’t fit in to either of their individual bands.

“They just wanted to record the songs because they existed and they were good, really. We went away for a couple of weeks in the summer and had fun and recorded the whole thing.”

Lucy O'Doherty