Josh Homme spreads his creative wings, with startling results.

Six years after the Queens’ last LP, and with only one old band member joining Josh Homme throughout, ...Like Clockwork had plenty of potential for disaster.

But not only is this record consistently good, it’s progressive.

My God Is The Sun is the only slab of vintage, knarly stoner rock in evidence, delivered with relish and characteristic verve.

But ventures in to new territory are more fruitful: Smooth Sailing’s filthy-fingernailed, prowling funk-rock is gleefully demonic.

Sir Elton John even tinkles the ivories (you read that right) adding sparkle to Fairweather Friend’s fire-and-brimstone guitar.

Vocals are brought to the fore of Homme’s lean, muscular rock, his lyrics evoking dislocation (I Sat By The Ocean’s “passing ships in the night” refrain; all of I Appear Missing) and anger.

The epic, prog-dusted piano ballad title track that closes the album is genuinely good, too.

Despite – or rather because of – these adventures, this is arguably Homme’s most satisfying record yet.

4 stars