There are a couple of things in life that it's probably OK to do, as long as you never admit to them in public. Such as picking your nose, or liking Embrace. At first responsible for hoodwinking the public at large with a great many versions of the same song recorded in slightly different keys and with mildly varied inspirational choruses, they soon fell out of favour with listeners and execs alike following the release of their - frankly quite baffling - second album and were consigned to the "whatever happened to?" bracket. They launched a renewed attack on the charts last year with more of the same stuff that made them famous in the first place - overblown pomp, soul-searching (which never quite found the right key) vocals from Danny McNamara and emotion. Pretty standard fare.

We're pleased (and more than a little surprised) to announce that this new album - produced by ex-Killing Joke bassist turned uber-producer and, lately, dub champion Youth - is nearly a departure from formula. Lead single Nature's Law (which, for a horrible couple of seconds in the intro, nearly threatens to turn into Roxette) isn't that much of a fair representation of the sound. Lively belters such as No Use Crying and the fantastic Sainted are much more like it. True, Danny struggles to find the notes a lot of the time, but these are big songs with roomy production, some real soul and nice high production standards. Try it out - you may be pleasantly surprised.

Rating:
Released: 27th March 2006
Label: Independiente