So a new year begins. 2008 promises much but, in the end, will anything match the phoenix like rise from the ashes that is British Sea Power? The album title might be the least imaginative idea they’ve had, but considering the wealth of ideas contained within it’s twelve tracks, perhaps it’s not that surprising. Do You Like Rock Music? bristles with energy and ideas from the very first time you press the “Play” button.It begins quietly with the choral introduction of “All In It”. The sound of drums like a marching beat, my mind is filled with images of the band slowly matching through a forested area until the crash of guitars bursts like a supernova. The band is now bathed in a bright light like some pilgrims reaching the end of their journey. And that’s all before the crunching riff of “Lights Out For The Darker Skies” kicks in. Then you’re spirited away on some fast moving plane over the Countryside. It’s a charging adrenaline rush of a song, the lyrics brim with flitting images of adventure and wonder. They revolve around the lines “You dance like sparks from a muzzle”, subtly changing throughout but keeping the same themes, all delivered in Yan’s marveling delivery. The slow down half way through only serves as a springboard for one of the greatest riffs I’ve heard for some time. It flows through your whole body, sending shivers down your spine into the very tips of your toes.It doesn’t let up either. This brilliant crashing, charging and emotive music continues into “No Lucifer”. Once again, the simple acoustic intro gives way to chants of “Easy! Easy! Easy!” accompanied with a rush of guitars and strings. The lyrics are a mess of influences and it’s hard to pick out exactly what’s going on, but it’s such a great barrage of noise, you can’t help but ignore those and enjoy the ride. We’re then treated to the lush “Waving Flags. Feeling like a comment on British society in the 00’s, it takes in binge drinking (“You of legal drinking age and minimum wage”), immigration (“We are from Slavia, oh welcoming”) and nationalism (“We’re all waving flag now”¦ But don’t be scared”) all wrapped in great big drums, swirling strings and the most pop-tastic moment of British Sea Power’s career to date.“Canvey Island” continues this “Big sound” approach. It’s awash with guitars and shimmering drums whilst “Down on the Ground” and “A Trip Out” trashes this with a more bombastic, route one feel. Chunky riffs are the underpinnings for Yan’s pining vocals throughout. It’s only really on the album closer “We Close Our Eyes” does the ambition wane. A nice idea to bookend the album with the same chanting, but its elongated ending really doesn’t do justice to the throbbing, adrenaline fuelled wonder of the other songs. This big, turbocharged sound doesn’t mean that the songs are left wanting, there’s still the idea filled lyrics that can make even the most obscure and difficult topics interesting and moving. This is intelligent pop music that should be embraced by the masses.Do You Like Rock Music? is BSP’s most consistent, ambitious and downright marvelous album to date. It combines the raw edginess of their debut with the more polished production of Open Season. What we have here is, already, a contender for album of the year. Sure, it might be a bit early, but British guitar music is going to have to do something truly special to beat this album in 2008. 90%mp3:> British Sea Power: “Atom”Links British Sea Power [official site] [myspace]