The return of Electrelane. This, their fourth long player, is their most focused album to date, seemingly maturing like a fine wine, this might not win over many news fans, but existing fans will find plenty to enjoy.

Kicking off with the mesmeric The Greater Times and recent single To The East, your welcomed with their usual rhythmic bass lines and chiming guitars. They seem to have taken some lessons from their recent tour partners, The Arcade Fire, as well, the music feels slightly more uplifting, almost anthemic in quality. The high vocal harmonies add an angelic edge to their darker, more edgy songs like After The Call which seems to brood, the guitars feel darker and more immersed in the production until the song bursts to live, the riffs click up a gear and suddenly the song lurches into overdrive. It comes as no surprise to learn that this album was recorded in Berlin, the song titles and general atmosphere of the album feels steeped in it’s past, from Tram 21 to the obvious In Berlin, it reeks of the dark and Eastern past of the city. The gentle organ and rhythm section rules throughout. The delicate, almost sea shanty, of At Sea only gets going about half-way through, when the guitars get turned up a notch, but by then you’ve been lulled to sleep by the delicate harmonies. It does get a touch familiar after a while, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, the ingredients are the same throughout and the tempo played with in a similar and predictable manner. It only really gets mixed up on the instrumental Between The Wolf and the Dog with it’s crunching intro and almost Stereolab-esque descent into it’s finale. It feels like they’ve woken up, tried something a little different.

Whilst this is an enjoyable album, nothing really sets it out from the crowd. This year has seen some truly great albums, but this feels very anonymous next to them. It’s quiet and delicate songs, perfect executed as they are, just don’t quite set it out. As a soundtrack to a lazy afternoon it’s perfect, certainly if you want something to just wash over you, but if you want more, it will only disappoint.
65%

Links
Electrelane [official site] [myspace]