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It is a good song. I wonder if I can allow myself to look forward to the album now, having found their last couple of albums to be decent but somewhat disappointing despite having some great moments.

The last album was dreadful. The one before pretty bad, but not AS bad.

is their finest hour to date ! I think they improve with age. Can't wait to hear the latest offering.

nicely understated and they've dropped the daft rock bombast, which is good. Have heard the album is similar and not too long (c.40 mins).

There have been some really good stuff on the last couple of albums but also a fair bit of dross. Hopefully this one is more consistent.

It'll be a good one! Some great tracks on there. Interested to hear what the proper production will do for it.

really inconsistent and, in the case of Vallhalla, far too rambling. Fingers crossed for this one.

being eaten up by all the recent releases. This is a great lead single. Never could understand how so many think they've dipped in quality. I feel like they've now made 4 great albums and are about to release a 5th. Amazingly consistent and they're not that different from the first two so not sure how you like those and not these. Valhalla got Who's in Control?, We are Sound, Luna, Living is so easy, Cleaning out the rooms, Stunde Null...the great songs are endless on that and all very BSP.

Despite my comments above I do prefer Valhalla to DYLRM though.

Reminded me of Fujiya & Miyagi. Bodes well for the new album.

Admittedly I said the same about DYLRM? and that turned out to a boring, bland tediumfest but hopefully this time...

while we're here though, gotta stand up for DYLRM? - basically as good as Decline to me, never understood the "boring, overblown rock" comments. It's full of energy and cool lyrics and one of the prettiest songs in ages in No Need To Cry.

Nice mixture of the more epic bits of Valhalla with (especially towards the back of the album) some really beautiful Open Season esque stuff. Quite compact too, which should please anyone annoyed by the sprawl of Valhalla.

they're planning on doing two sets per gig, both before and after supports, so worth getting there early

the Guardian website from noon today.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2013/mar/26/british-sea-power-machineries-of-joy

My initial reaction is disappointment, but we'll see. Monsters of Sunderland and Spring Has Sprung seem to be the highlights so far but there's nothing here I love yet.

Hmm, from the sounds of this it's definitely a listen to stream before buy job, which is not something I though I'd have to say about BSP.

Every album since Decline gets trashed on these boards and they're all great. Does no one here like their soundtrack work? They've always been a band that straddles pixies post punk and more pastoral, prettier stuff. They've always straddled that line better then anyone. I'm actually excited to hear its a more meditative, slower record.

In those 4 seconds per song transition entering the tracks into iTunes...gave me very surprisingly positive vibes regarding this record.

And my 40-second album evaluations are pretty darn accurate.

*if Al Gore hadn't invented the internet, I would have*

but when the other fella starts singing my heart sinks a little bit - felt like this on all their albums. First impressions on the new album - pretty good, liking the wonky brass (not Abi Fry!)

Q reckons it's their best, Mojo calls it Mesmeric and there's a great Incendiary review that seems to really understand the band who praises it. Clearly it deserves more then quick dismissal which is becoming the du jour of the DiS crowd.

next week.

Whether it surpasses Valhalla I'm not sure yet, requires more listening. Doesn't get anywhere near OS or Decline. Still best UK band of the last 10 years regardless.

Not really as good as the first 3 but probably better than Valhalla - not as many highlights but more consistent and never sounds like they're trying too hard - and not far off DYLRM I think. The production and general mood of it reminds me a lot of Open Season.

Yeah.