Alex Turner: 'Submarine EP'

When James Dean Bradfield had a rant about young stars not getting that "being in a band is a badge of honour" it was hard not to think of Alex Turner and Arctic Monkeys. Sure, no-one would suggest that the Sheffield foursome make "gap year music", but Turner's eagerness to spread his wings outside the gang (forming The Last Shadow Puppets, working with Dizzee Rascal) could have attracted suspicion. But, not for the first time he's blown away any mistrust with the loveliness of his songwriting.

Because, for all the enjoyable bluster of the Monkeys, Turner's finest moment is still the Puppets' 'Standing Next To Me' (whose video was directed by Submarine helmer Richard Ayoade), and it's that disarming melodic skill which comes to the fore on this stripped-back collection. Through a short intro and five songs proper, Turner tweaks and tugs at the heartstrings with a surprising gentleness of voice and tone.

There's the drifting Harrison-style melancholy of 'Hiding Tonight' and 'Glass In The Park', followed by the folksy Ryan Adams/Dylan melodies of 'It's Hard To Get Around The Wind'. There's also an obliqueness to the lyrics that's a refreshing wave ("Last night I looked up into the dark half of the blue") compared to the in-your-face-obviousness of his parent band. Some drums finally force their way in to the record for 'Stuck On The Puzzle', which hosts the poppiest vibe here, and closer 'Piledriver Waltz', whose 3/4 dancehall chorus offers a perfectly swirly coda.