Gnarls Barkley – The Odd Couple

Vinyl 12"

With its cinematic origins 'The Odd Couple' is the natural title for the second album by a pair who seem to spend as much time in wardrobe as the studio and whose recordings are often compared to film scores. Their greatest hit, 2006's 'Crazy' was even built around a chunk of a spaghetti western soundtrack. Yet after the success of 2006's excellent 'St Elsewhere', the collaboration of singer Thomas 'Cee-Lo Green' Callaway and producer Brian 'Danger Mouse' Burton has become a permanent institution.

Two years on, 'The Odd Couple' stands up proudly alongside its predecessor. The basic recipe hasn't been drastically altered - Danger Mouse's skittering beats and snap-crackle-pop production still provide the perfect platform for Cee-Lo's mighty, soulful wail. If anything, the pair have refined and sharpened their approach to a razor's edge.