The Music return after a hefty absence with an album reminding us all what a talent they are. Despite numerous bands fusing dance and rock, they were ahead of the curve and still do it better than most.
The album itself makes for great listening. There are moments such as "Fire" that could sit on either of Strength in Numbers predecessors, but the formula has been tweaked to give a fresh perspective on the bands sound. There are moments of respite in the likes of "The Spike" and "Drugs" which show a new lower range for singer Rob Harvey, and it helps give an sinister edge to proceedings.
Elsewhere Adam Nutters' big guitar riffs are present, but only in equal measure to some brilliantly intricate guitar work too. Tracks like The Last One show the band bridging the dance/rock divide perfectly. There's even an acoustic track bringing the album to a close, proving that the Music have come a long way in 4 years as a band and as people.
I can't quite give the album a 5 star rating, as there are a few tracks that possibly shouldn't have made the cut, most notably Cold Blooded. I think reduced to 10 tracks it could have been perfect. That however is not to take anything away from a band who do literally sound happy just to be here. This is a great album and is a wholly worthwhile addition to the rest of their material.
It also should be mentioned that they are also easily one of the best live bands currently touring, and for me they deserve the kind of plaudits Muse usually win on a regular basis for their live shows.
