Given To The Wild

The Maccabees' third album shows they've evolved at a surprising rate.

Their 2007 debut Colour It In was ten-a-penny, scratchy indie pop, remarkable only for the well-to-do names of its makers – Orlando, Felix, Rupert, Hugo and Sam didn't sound like counterculture rock'n'rollers and the critics weren’t about to take them seriously.

But what 2009 album Wall Of Arms started, Given To The Wild has completed with bells on. Their second album proved they could do something ambitious with their sound, making widescreen rock with Arcade Fire producer Markus Dravs, and now they have teamed up with DFA/LCD Soundsystem's Tim Goldsworthy to create an even lusher record, one that sparkles and chimes and thumbs its nose at tired indie strictures.

Singer Orlando Weeks' sweet falsetto becomes just another instrument as his band reaches brass-led delirium on Child or melds Talk Talk and deep-pile Cocteau Twins mystery on Feel To Follow. Massed voices bring euphoria to Heave and the big cascading finish of Grew Up At Midnight. It seems as if everything's vast but twinkling guitar lines and shimmering percussion can always be picked out.

What a transformation. From humble – even drab – beginnings, The Maccabees have become a band that matters. Who knows where they'll go next?

Album Review by Matthew Horton