Boards

I realise that this is a positive review of a truly breathtaking album, but it still seems a bit wide of the mark to me. Maybe I have different ears, but I just don't get how "three points on a compass" is about a love-triangle. It's surely about an absent/abusive relationship with a parent. I also don't get the idea that the album is fuelled by Martin Rossiter's 'misery'. Anger, humour, longing, resignation, regret... I think there's a bloody great slew of things going on here, but I don't really get misery as the overall driving force. And the reference to Hubert Selby Jr is surely just the standard album review device to signal: "I'm well read, me..."

Finally, without wishing to 'diss' Keane, to even mention them here does Mr Rossiter a dis-service, in my view.

Sorry if this appears harsh, but this is just such a wonderfully rich, inventive and beautiful collection of songs that it feels like it deserves a bit more than this review. Just my opinion, innit?

indeed 3 points to a compass is a song about Martin's relationship with his father, see the Dis interview that talks about that song: http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4145747 moving.

I agree, luther_gravy. We're told to 'forget the fact there's a britpop era survivor behind what's on show'...and then we're reminded at every turn with clunky references to bands which bear no relation to this music.

Not to stick it to the reviewer, I'm pleased the record's got a positive review here, but it sells it short.

I feel the same way about this album as I did when I first heard those old Scott Walker solo albums or late Talk Talk. It's that good.