CD Choice: Rock

For all the first-rate British rock releases of the past few years, one recurring similarity has tainted most of them: an unhealthy obsession with re-hashing the past. Musicians have plundered the legacy left by everyone from The Beatles to The Jam, then passed it off as something supposedly new and interesting.

Refreshingly, for their third album, Bristol-based British Sea Power have taken a look at the blueprints fashioned by some of the finest recent bands from both sides of the Atlantic, added their own formidable ideas to the mix, and delivered a soaring collection of tunes. The results are very much in the vein of Arcade Fire's more-is-more approach; while this isn't groundbreaking, it's hard to argue with a record that manages to combine all that's exciting about rock's zeitgeist into 55 minutes.

As usual, brothers Yan and Hamilton share vocal duties, but what stands out are the stadium- friendly choruses, monumental arrangements and sucker-punch melodies. No Lucifer sounds like Broken Social Scene fronted by lager louts, while the sweeping chorus of the epic pro- immigration Waving Flags will have you pressing repeat over and over again.

The band adopt the Northern grandeur of Doves on both Canvey Island and the cavernous beauty of an instrumental, The Great Skua (that's a large seabird for you wildlife philistines out there). After hearing the sonic assault of All in It and Atom (the latter will leave your speakers begging for mercy) it should come as no surprise to learn that Efrim Menuck of Canadian post-rock royalty Godspeed You! Black Emperor is one of three producers on the album, along with Howard Bilerman (ex-Arcade Fire) and Graham Hutton.

Do You Like Rock Music? is a huge leap forward from British Sea Power's previous two efforts. This album should see the four-piece promoted from quirky contenders to serious heavyweights. www. britishsea power.co.uk BRIAN KEANE

Download Tracks: Waving Flags, The Great Skua, No Need to Cry