Julian Plenti

It's almost impossible to immediately distinguish Paul Banks' new solo moniker, Julian Plenti, from his work with Interpol; his distinctive, drawling, moody vocal delivery remains. It's startling to discover, then, that the Julian Plenti LP has been in the works for over ten years before Interpol's breakthrough hit Turn On the Bright Lights. Obviously, Banks had Interpol's style in his head for a while. Still, the two acts are not entirely identical — where Interpol consist of epic and often spacey rock work, Plenti's songs are melodically simple, as well as melancholically precise. With long mid-song orchestral meanderings, Julian Plenti Is… Skyscraper feels almost fantastical, with the listener accompanying Plenti on a journey through dense nature — a definite departure from Interpol's more urban-themed songs. Plenti represents for Banks a form of escapism, no doubt influenced by his New York surroundings. And it sounds like Plenti helped Banks perfect the great work that eventually came out with his Interpol band-mates.