One idea bumps into another, the two briefly exchange words until one dithers off elsewhere, the other hanging around before the process repeats. “Scatterbrained” is an apt one-word description of The Isles’ latest offering, projecting itself like the product of a two-week drink and drugs bender. 17 casual clicks of the record button in between the chaos later and they’ve produced an album of stern unpredictability and complete lack of pretence.

Outside Beauty is full to the brim with charm and simple melodies, each and every one delivered on the off-chance that something of substance will come as a result. The majority of tracks don’t get further than the one and a half minute mark; often being interrupted by another trail of thought. But the bulk of the album flows with surprising ease – astonishing, when you consider synths, acoustic guitars and percussion are swapping the leading roles like a Tekken tag team.

‘I’ll Take The Fall’ opens proceedings with a Jim Noir-like zaniness; repetitively strummed chords, Andrew Geller inanely announcing that; “Summer has its problems/ Winter has its problems”. The opener is arguably the most complete-sounding song on the entire album, with only the full-band groove of ‘So Tired’ and the title-track staking their claim elsewhere. Abstract, reverb-ridden pieces like the album’s longest track (at 2 minutes, 55 seconds), ‘Pretty Things’ work just as well, however. Vocals are indecipherable, the structure is non-aligned but there’s a calming mood to it all that balances out the pent up, emotional ramble that dominates much of the album.

There are some occasional, striking pieces; the stratospheric leanings of ‘After The Weekend’; the up-close, isolated intimacy of ‘I Don’t Care Who Calls’ and the touching swansong ‘Wait ‘Till The River Is Low’ all manage to capture your attention. All the same, for an album that turns its head so dramatically, very often, Outside Beauty is short of these stand-out moments. Perhaps with a little more calculation and a couple of stunning two-minute pop songs thrown in to the pot, something special could have been achieved. Instead we’re landed with an album of occasional genius, but one that makes you work extremely hard in order to discover said excellence.