Blame It On The Summer: The Kills turn up the heat with latest single "103"

Photo by Myles Hendrik

Hot on the heels of their bi-coastal one-two punch in the form of the Scorsese-esque "New York" and not-quite-a-rap "LA Hex," The Kills turn up the heat with their latest single, "103." 

Kicking off with a driving beat seemingly filtered through the tumbling cacophony of metal trash cans, "103" begins with a surprisingly mellow guitar riff that languidly oscillates on reverberating frequencies chemically detached from the rhythmic foundation, floating in zero gravity and emanating in waves from a central point like the slow-moving blossoms of exotic nebulae in deep space. Alison Mosshart's vocals are seemingly beamed from another dimension, a lost radio transmission bouncing off the glistening solar fins of listless satellites spinning eternally farther away into the void. 

The hook is appropriately massive, carried on a jagged riff and anthemic vocals that exemplify the delicate balance between bombastic and unflappable that The Kills have made their modus operandi on latter entries in their growing discography. Like Hotel and VV themselves, "103" is possessed a kind of magnetic cool that captivates with a mystifying quality, attracting curiosity from across the room but remaining ensconced behind an impenetrable barrier of otherworldliness. As quickly as it builds, "103" settles back into it's overarching groove for the verse before exploding once again into electric excess, released from previous restraints to launch headlong into a colossal reprise of the hook and a stratospheric celebration of Jamie Hince's uniquely textural playing.

Tantalizingly impressionistic with flashes of the hyperreal, "103" embodies the sensation of ambition blunted by the overwhelming heat of the day and the intoxicating effects of evenings spent seeking sweet relief and temporary distraction in the arms of a lover or the bottom of a glass. The desire to achieve, the need to ascend from the stickiness of the liquified streets, is never lost but rather momentarily displaced as the mercury creeps ever higher, sapping the strength from even the most resilient souls yearning for the sweet release of a cooler season and a second chance to make dreams a reality. But, for now, just order another round and blame it on the summer.

The Kills' latest album, God Games, is releasing on October 27 via Domino. Pre-order and pre-save the album here and follow The Kills on Instagram.

Vinyl available on Amazon.