The Black Keys deliver a tight and soulful new single

Fever

By the Black Keys, from the forthcoming Turn Blue (Nonesuch); streaming at theblackkeys.com

The Black Keys have always insisted they were not a blues band, and now we are beginning to believe. The tight, soulful lead single to the American rock duo's upcoming eighth album – they really do churn them out – is stealthy, synthy and the opposite of gutbucket.

A limber bass line does the heavy lifting in the verse, while perky notes struck on a retro-sounding synthesizer elevate the chorus.

Front-man Dan Auerbach doesn't bother with his guitar much, choosing to concentrate on the cool singing of lyrics about a delirium that would seem to be desired: "Acting right is so routine. Fever, let me live a dream." Of course, singers are famously vulnerable to fever. Peggy Lee caught it when she was kissed and when she was held tight, with symptoms extending in the morning and "all through the night."

Sounds good, right? We should all be so sick.