Karen O & Danger Mouse
Lux Prima

It's 2007 when Karen O and Danger Mouse take their first steps in a collaboration that would only materialize this year, twelve years later, with this "Lux Prima".

We're talking about the frontwoman of one of the most acclaimed bands in the American indie scene, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and one of the most sought-after producers of the past decade (also co-founder with Cee-Lo Green of Gnarls Barkley - remember "Crazy"?). As for Karen O, her last venture into the music market was in 2014 with a promising solo debut "Crush Songs", while to find her band's last effort we have to go back six years to "Mosquito".

Danger Mouse, on the other hand, has been very busy as usual (behind the boards for Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, Parquet Courts, Adele, Black Keys and the list goes on). Now that the stars have aligned favorably for them, the unlikely (up to a point, as we'll see) duo has worked together and produced these nine tracks, released through BMG.

But how does this collaboration sound? It sounds good, very good, and since Danger Mouse is at the controls, it couldn't have been otherwise. The result of the sum of the two parts is indie rock built and executed with skill, managing to even range through influences with good agility, often within the same track like in the spectacular opening owned by the title track (and first single); a nine-minute suite that starts decidedly Floydian, then reveals a pop heart (but of high class) and closes in an Air-like fashion.

"Ministry" is a trip hop halfway between early Morcheeba and the best Portishead, "Turn The Light" restores dignity to a genre now widely abused like chart-topping pop and, yes, there's even proper rock 'n' roll ("Woman", with - of course - a perfectly at-home Karen O).

Danger Mouse sharpens the blades in episodes like "Leopard's Tongue", an absolute masterstroke in terms of arrangements, and in the electronics of the circular closing with "Nox Lumina". Meanwhile, Karen O continues to enchant with suffering lo-fi ballads like "Drown" and "Reveries" (beautiful), though she is less convincing when trying to mimic Shirley Manson in the Garbage-inspired "Redeemer".

"Lux Prima" is an absolutely successful collaboration, and less quirky than it seemed at the time of the announcement.

Best track: Lux Prima