No Cv: Parental Advisory

To the pedant, comparisons with Radiohead are inevitable from the name to the choice of the legendary John Leckie as producer. However any such assertion is blown out of the water once the music begins. Beginning with an uncharacteristically heavy guitar lament on "Lonely", things mellow out on "Stumble" which effectively mines the same seam of heartbreak as Plush and I Am Kloot. Styles change again with "Dig A Hole" a sleazy Prince/ electronica attempt. By now the breadth of music and the quality of the songwriting is obvious; what's impressive is how the quality holds up throughout, climaxing in the fantastic nine-minute "Pulling Myself Together" which weaves the seemingly disparate threads into a cohesive, magnificent whole. Overall then, a fascinating and wonderful album for anyone with an ear for melody. --Thom Allott