Judgement

The serene opening instrumental simply titled may not give any clue that thudding drum machines will dominate soon. Instead, it paints a perfect, widescreen picture of how huge and ambitious 's seventh effort is, while also warning that this album is not afraid to be soft. Fans of the gritty and gutsy early days may think this another sub- effort, and there is no hint has any desire to chase them. Adjust your expectations accordingly and the up-tempo numbers -- most stretching past the five-minute mark -- do not disappoint. Strong tracks like and flex their muscles with ominous power and melodies that are instant and probably a bit too friendly for the set or anyone looking for the blasts found on 's debut, . Of course, heartfelt tracks like the lazy and drifty would be impossible on their early albums. Here, they're the ones that make the whole package so well rounded when dropped between the band's tried and true club music. The lyrics are free of metaphor for the most part and uncomplicated, maybe to a fault. Still, they get their distraught and disappointed message across and sit on intricate, layered arrangements of synths, sequencers, and drum machines. still work just fine in dark clubs, but with bold personal moments and grand soundscapes, works even better at home when given full attention. ~ David Jeffries