12

A soul-engrossing debut from a leading band in the new wave of good music

Music's back thank God! This debut eponymous is as good any for alluding to that fact. Bloc party's debut has said 'Hello' in a big way, Futureheads, Kaiser Chiefs, Maximo Park, all are here kicking the ragged ass of the pseudo-cool, apathy-laden garage revival acts like The Strokes out of the picture. And the Engineers can join the ranks of innovative and original new music with honour.

Signed to Echo, their sound resembles Feeder somewhat, though with more abstraction and free-flowing musical form. The tracks sail through your mind in a conglomerate of melding lushness and placid colours. Pale, pastel shades and fluid, celluloid memories stream past your inner eyelids as 'Home' transcends into 'One in Seven'.

‘Home’ is a very strong opener, a warm feeling song that invokes phenomenological experiences of that so personal word: Home. With its caressing chorus and seamless verses it lulls you down into translucent loveliness. 'Waved On' does exactly what it says on the tin too, it waves you through number two at a nice, slow and easy pace, it radiates an ethereal stillness and forms beautiful shapes in front of you.

What a nice album this is, a really relaxing record, perfect for the coolness and crispness of the winter air, taking in the aromas from the fires that are keeping people warm, the world isn't that bad really, not when you press play.

The wonderful single 'Forgiveness' hits you nicely, could be a beach in the Caribbean with a Lilt or a snowy meadow next to a lake if it were a landscape, a tranquil retreat, a peaceful escape. This album gives you more of an urge to feel life, to know temperature, to venture as opposed to staying inside locked doors.

'Let's Just See' has a lovely beat about it, cool and sensual, alert and spatial, retro and pushing things forward. The CD comes packed in scenes of homely yet alien places, circling helicopters and strange buildings, a future maybe, nicely lit and welcoming it seems. 'Come in Out of The Rain' is another single of gigantic proportions, accessible, and memorable. A small classic in itself.

With elements of sound exploration and experimentation on tracks like 'Peter Street' and just really nice, simple songs sung so lovingly and hitting you lovely. This album is hard to beat for one of those bits of music to stick on when no other will suit the mood, because this is mood, this is essence, escape. Very good for a debut release, they'll be chasing on the heels of visionary masters like 'Mogwai' before long. A brilliant album bettered only by a few of its type. Engineers invite your soul to a banquet of pureness.