REVIEW: UNKLE - Only The Lonely

UNKLE
Only The Lonely
(Surrender All)
(out of 5)

It is perhaps apt timing that UNKLE’s latest EP, Only The Lonely, has come out around the time James Lavelle’s touring Australasia. With some calling this ‘leftovers’ and others a companion piece to Where Did The Night Fall, Only The Lonely boasts collaborative efforts with Leila Moss (the Duke Spirit), Gavin Clark (Clayhill) and Nick Cave. Yes - you read that correctly.

Which again brings to mind the whole timing situation - leading the record with a track featuring one of Australia’s most respected musical exports? It’s guaranteed to get fans talking, and maybe build up some hype Cave might feature at a UNKLE show. Cave’s track is the best on the EP. It would have to be - with Cave trumping the other guests, Lavelle would be foolish not to lead with it.

‘Money And Run’ is befitting for Cave, coming off the Grinderman buzz; it goes back into that hedonistic, sleazy charm the group have.

Sadly, the rest of the EP pales in comparison - thanks to the awful production. It feels like Lavelle is swamping the market, and therein lies the ‘leftovers’ critique. If this were merely a tour EP then, yes, there is justification for it.

That it’s getting a global release seems a little too bloated for UNKLE, and it proves just another chance for naysayers to throw stones. Myself included, this time around.

By Benjii Jackson