Enter the Eleventh Dimension

Strokes fans have been (not so) patiently waiting for new material from the band for over four years now. Yet as lead singer Julian Casablancas prepares to launch his solo career, it looks like they're going to have to wait still a little longer (if internet reports are correct then they will have to wait until March 2010).

Casablancas is not the first Stroke to venture into the music wilderness by himself though. Guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., has already made a name for himself with two successful solo albums, drummer Fabrizio Moretti is a member of the band, 'Little Joy' and bassist Nikolai Fraiture sits at the helm of musical trio "Nickel Eye'. All three existing side projects produce very different material to each other in sound and production style, so it is no surprise that Casablancas has chosen to forge a distinctly separate path as well.

Jumping on the 80's bandwagon that has proven itself to be a strong influence in many artists' work this year, Julian is striding out with an unmistakably electro sound. Imagine the Strokes' early guitar riffs mixed in with a synthesizer and we have his debut solo single, 'Eleventh Dimension'. In fact, synth saturates the song so much that it puts the Killers' recent overload to shame; but it works. Whereas Moretti and Fraiture prevailed with a smoother edge to their music, encapsulating at moments sounds ranging from pop, folk and reggae, Casablancas' foray is far more commercially appealing and despite the lack of heavy guitars, the scent of Stroke continues to linger in the background. Strokes fans internet wide are divided. Many are complaining it is too much of a departure from the usual Casablancas punk-rock style, yet others are declaring it a bold experiment with surprisingly impressive results.

Either way, I am going to be so bold as to declare that Eleventh Dimension is one of the catchiest tracks released this year. Your first instinct upon hearing the opening eight notes (which are repeated throughout) is to dance, and long after retiring from the dance floor the track remains stuck in your head and will most likely continue to run around for a day or so after. Taken from the album 'Phrazes For The Young' released November 2nd, Casablancas has admirably proven himself to be far more than a one trick pony - and as a result should be the man to watch even after The Strokes' eventual demise.