Alison Mosshart, best known from her involvement with the bands The Kills and The Dead Weather, has released “Rise” — the first song under her own name. She has smeared all over the debut track with her too-cool-for-school attitude, but also super mysterious-cigar in mouth 24/7 vibes. “Rise” is not The Kills or even Dead Weather, it’s Mosshart’s nod to the future of rock and roll as rudimental and personal as it can get. The singer’s personality comes front and center without being standoffish or confrontational, but it might feel that way if you mistake it for what it is: pure confidence. The contrast between “Rise” and The Kills latest tracks, for example “Doing It To Death”, are enormous. “Rise” is reminiscent of that early grit the band delivered in their songs “U.R.A. Fever” and even “Tape Song”. The debut single feels personal, and if you had an idea of what she’d be capable of doing, there’s not a lack of understanding that now. Whilst the video only showcases two scenarios, it feels very up-close and personal. Here are some big shiny rims and cars I like, and here I am smoking a cigarette, she seems to be sharing. The self-shot scenes make you think of “Black Balloon” with its dark landscape and mystifying found footage imagery. It seems, Mosshart is fully in charge this time, you may have partially seen her world before but not like this. I am enthralled and wondering what else the artist will, hopefully, share with us soon.
“Rise” is out on Domino Records.
