Maxïmo Park; trusty old friend, welcome back. It was 4 years ago this month when their debut 'A Certain Trigger' came out, and I still remember how in awe I was as I poured over my CD player. 2004/5 was when I fell in love with music, and these Newcastle boys were one of my first favourite bands of the time. I know this sounds very retrospective for only a few years back, but they do make me nostalgic. The follow up, 'Our Earthly Pleasures' was more of a grower, and kept growing on me until it landed as one of my favourite albums of 2007. So basically this, their 3rd album has quite a lot to live up to.
Early recording news contained whispers of dreaded synth experimentation, but the first song to surface, and the opener to the album 'Wraithlike' blasts any fear of misguided styles in 2 and a half minutes of a band on top form. It even has the trademark of Paul Smith's vocals out lasting the instruments at the very end of the song with classic Maxïmo lyrics "She said I'll forget her face, that's a lie, it's just not as real as before". Next, 'The Penultimate Clinch' starts gloomy but delivers a familiar and pleasing type of chorus. Current single 'The Kids Are Sick Again' is probably the furthest step away from the band's usual techniques - the chorus only appears once, finally bursting out in the last minute of the song. It's a risky choice for the first proper single, but a definite grower nonetheless.
Elsewhere, Smith's ever recognisable Newcastle accent carries his bookish lyrics at a great pace which means the album never has a dull moment. It's punchier than their previous album, with the music often taking the form of hard, fast and pulsating, as in 'Let's Get Clinical'. And 'Tanned' gives the best example of how they've utilised new instruments well; as a floaty electronic noise opens a great song that doesn't compromise the music at all. It's most enjoyable however, when they cross over into heartfelt melodies and intimate lyrics. This is done best on personal highlight 'A Cloud Of Mystery' which encompasses everything the band do best, and on the brilliant 'Roller Disco Dreams' which reveals "a head full of curls on my pillow". But the band really let loose on 'Calm' where they really make a step forwards. The first half of the song is business as usual, but later on a huge, haunting, high speed synth line flies in as Paul sings "She said to think of her when I'm alone, but I'm never alone, when I want to be!" It genuinely does quicken the heart.
Maxïmo Park have done it again. Today people want instant thrills, they don't have the patience for a grower. It's a real shame if they miss an album like this, as I think many did for the band's last album. The mention of synthesisers probably left critics muttering about a difficult third album, but once this one clicks it becomes so obvious that they've really progressed, which is a rare thing. 'Questing, Not Coasting' perhaps references the fan favourite from their debut 'The Coast Is Always Changing' which is relevant really, as it gives a good idea of what they've trying to do - move forward. Which is why they remain one of my favourite bands.
8.5
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