Jack White announces new project

Raconteurs and White Stripes frontman, Jack White, is not content to dwell on past successes. Instead, he announced recently his desire to try something different yet again. Quickly garnering a reputation as the busiest man in rock 'n' roll, his latest project is billed as an indie-rock supergroup and features members of The Raconteurs, The Kills and Queens of the Stone Age, alongside White himself. This new ensemble, The Dead Weather, sees White in a very different role to the one he usually plays, reverting back to his very first instrument – the drums.

With White installed behind the kit, and female vocalist Alison Mosshart leading the group, it's certainly a far cry from White's power-duo days with The White Stripes. As he told Rolling Stone magazine this month: "I produced the record from the drummer's seat, which is a new angle for me."

Whilst the acclaimed guitarist does still contribute vocals to a few numbers on the new record, Horehound, The Dead Weather's sound is far darker and more atmospheric than anything we've heard from White to date. Their sludgy brand of psychedelic rock is driven along by White's surprisingly dynamic drumming, and saved from the inevitable Stripes comparisons by Mosshart's vocal performance – flitting effortlessly from smoky seductress to blues-rock banshee.

Originally taking shape through a series of chance meetings and jams whilst on the road, The Dead Weather quickly matured into a serious creative unit. Recording their debut record, due for release in June, in just three weeks. Indeed Mosshart seems a little overwhelmed at the speed the project has come together. As she told Rolling Stone, "In The Kills, it takes a long time to finish anything. This band is fun because Jack works so fast. There is never a dull moment – ever."