Crashing back to infiltrate the airwaves.
A few years back the crossover between dance and indie was blurring rapidly and right at the forefront were DFA and their production skills which helped launch The Rapture. It seemed a night was not complete with a cow-bell ringing through at least one track and the sort of slap bass runs not heard of since the early 1980s were welcomed back to the fold.
One act who were just a bit too ahead of the game in creating this sound were Radio 4, whose 'Gotham' album helped create the blueprint which LCD Soundsystem later polished to perfection.
Back with new album 'Enemies Like This', Radio 4 try to move their sound on and aim to show that they aren't a nostalgia act rooted in the days of Indie-dance crossover.
'Enemies Like This' has a slightly darker edge and this may be a reaction to the band missing out on that wave of crossover but on the whole, the formula remains along the same. The guitarist may have changed but the urgency and driving force of the bass and drums remain at the front of everything that Radio 4 do. Those who fell in love with the band's sound and drive from the first record will still feel at home here but there are enough subtle changes to make the difference clear.
The title track opens the album and it takes no prisoners. There is a fire and energy to the song which takes off at a fair pace and is sure to go down well during the live shows. The vocals are slightly atonal and remain the biggest drawback of the Radio 4's sound. Whilst all hell is breaking loose on the musical forefront and the percussion is ringing around; the vocals have a flat feel.
On tracks like 'This Is Not A Test' there is no great adrenalin or emotion and the music and not the vocal delivery provide all the drive. It's a shame that Radio 4 don't seem to carry more vigour and spirit as many of their songs have the potential to be dance-floor smashes but there is just something lacking.
Closing track 'As Far As The Eye Can See' leans heavily on the LCD Soundsystem of tracks such as 'Beat Connection' and the loose percussion intro immediately sparks the tempo and when the upbeat chorus kicks in, the track hurtles the album off to a pleasing conclusion.
It's unlikely to win over many new fans but any old lovers of Radio 4 will approve of this new record.