In 2006 My Latest Novel’s album WOLVES rightly laid claim to be the most distinctive and original released that year. It was also a very fine album by a band who delivered live big-time. So I really looked forward to hearing the band’s new album which, to me, is rather surprising…

It’s not uncommon today for albums to start with introductory tracks featuring grand and dramatic instrumental gestures. And so it is here. ‘All In All In All Is All’ opens with a approaching wall of eerie, dark sounds before drums, flute and vocals enter. The song is distinctive in its use of the main vocal backed by two other vocals (male and female) singing in just out of sync. Then towards the end the rather fuzzy sound becomes clearer and I had to check the player to see if the second track had started. So, an epic, melodic and distinctive opening.

‘Dragonhide’ is as clear as a bell as the dual male/female vocals sing in unison before the female vocal peals off to take up a backing role. It’s another epic song with superb melody and a massive instrumental backdrop where just about every instrument is dropped into the mix. ‘Lacklustre’ is far simpler with a sparse piano notes beating a rhythm to the vocal. Around the middle-eight the song momentarily takes on a medieval sound (Robin Hood theme style) before reverting back to more conventional folk-pop.

‘I Declared A Ceasfire’ is a moving and dramatic highlight of the album with its glorious vocal, superb harmonies, epic choruses, gradually building momento and mammoth melody. This song alone (amongst several) places this band in the top echelon of UK bands.

‘A Dear Green Place’ is another clear folk dominated beauty while ‘Argument Against The Man’ uses Motown Spectre mode to communicate its solid message. ‘Man Against The Argument’ opens with a heart-stopping drum passage in its brief life. ‘The Accident Will’ is a glacially-paced stunner with stark guitar chords and vocal. Then the sound changes from being pin sharp to bass-driven doom only to change again to indie rock - you have to hear this to believe it!

The surprise is that this Scottish five-piece has retained its sonic signature for its second album while injecting fresh new sounds and a wholly different ambience. The result is another ambitious album that delivers on all fronts like no other UK band in 2009, while retaining the band’s quality, originality and distinction.

This is one epic, beautiful, thought-provoking album that gets better with every play. DEATHS & ENTRANCES is an absolutely essential purchase and potentially the album of the year.

5/5