Arctics' Crying Lightning

Alex Turner discusses unconventional taste of Humbug's first single

07 July 2009 - The first flavour of Arctic Monkeys’ new album, the song Crying Lightning, was played on Mark Riley's 6 Music show last night and it’s the best hint they could give as to how the album sounds, says singer Alex Turner.

Before they headed off to Serbia for their slot at Exit festival this weekend, he told the BBC: "This was deemed the best signifier of the record. It was a favourite during recording."

The song was one of the first tracks the Sheffield band recorded in Joshua Tree with Queens Of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme.

Turner agreed with Zane Lowe when he said he reckons the track works well as an unconventional pop song.

"It's quite strange as far as a pop song goes, the arrangement," he said.

Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford also took up production duties on their third album, Humbug.

Turner said the thrills, gearing up to its 24 August release, are building and it feels better than ever.

"It's exciting. We've just done a video yesterday," he said, admitting: "There’s something about this one, we’ve enjoyed making it more than the other two put together. It does really feel like we’re getting somewhere."

The band return to headline the Reading and Leeds festivals in August, their only UK festival dates amid a bunch in Europe and America.

"I think I'm a bit more ready for that sort of thing than I’ve been in the past. Glastonbury [headlining in 2007] taught us that, I think we grew up in some way," said Turner.
 
Crying Lightning is available to download now.

Georgie Rogers