Interpol’s single Slow Hands, from the new album Antics, is already a friend to me the way a song that is really great always is. It isn’t an easy thing to write broken-heart lyrics and make them authentic. Vocalist Paul Banks manages to sound a bit menacing, in a gentle way, while in regret or in remembrance of this ache. The bite of the action is there in the sound and the words. Slow Hands has already been the soundtrack to a dream or two of mine, and I find myself humming it as I would an old favorite.
When I got my copy of Antics, it immediately went to number one on my first-thing-in-the-morning rotation. The songs are all really solid in a good way and explorative enough to make me wish there was more. The sound is clean and by all appearances everyone in the band is remarkable. Carlos D., the bassist (who I just found out also writes and records all of the keyboard parts), and drummer Sam Fogarino seem even tighter than before in an aggressive, driving, kind of manner. There are some beautiful guitar pieces that I think are done by Daniel Kessler, most markedly so in A Time to Be So Small and Not Even Jail. I enjoy Evil immensely and Next Exit starts Antics off strong. In all, Interpol has come off with one of my favorites for the year, Slow Hands being at the top of the list.
I caught the video for Slow Hands, by director Daniel Levi last week on Subterranean, and then I re-watched a few more times on the Matador Records Web site. I responded to the green tint and the camera shots most absolutely and felt they added to the angst of the piece. It is a document that gives you just enough of Interpol without feeling like you are watching a commercial, which is way to often the case with other music videos. Notably, the slow speed of the visual was nicely done and gave the viewer those lovely lingering moments on extreme tight shots of Interpol faces. The video helped me to love the sound of Slow Hands even more, which almost never happens.
There is something so wonderful about a band that knows how to project energy into you while they perform. Interpol does just that. There is a succinct movement amidst the chaos band-wide. They belong on stage. The sold-out show (it was nearly impossible to get anywhere near them) at First Avenue Tuesday, October 19,was not to be missed. They sounded remarkable and loud. Antics was well represented live.

I have to admit that for me visually, Carlos D. is the most exciting member on stage and I can’t get enough. Plus, who else could pull off a gun holster as a fashion statement and get away with it so easily? It has to be said that these guys can dress. I was, however, a little disappointed that Paul didn’t wear his “Harry Caray”
glasses that he has been seen sporting.

In summation, Interpol is one of my favorite bands and to use an over used-phrase, not to be missed.