British Sea Power

Valhalla Dancehall Rough Trade***

For a band with a reputation for being slightly eccentric, British Sea Power have amassed a sizeable fanbase enamoured with their layered, epic indie-rock tunes. The sextet's last project was the soundtrack to the 1934 documentary

Man of Aran

, and several songs on their fifth album would suggest that they're still in "scoring" mode, most notably the 11 minute- plus

Once More Now

. Its mini-rock odyssey vibe is agreeable, but it is songs such as the dreamy, Cocteau Twins- informed

Baby

, and the biting, uptempo

Stunde Null

and

Thin Black Sail

, that grab lapels and shake shoulders most efficiently. The Brightonians are the quintessential "album band". Previous collections were varnished by a tone that made much of their output samey, but

Valhalla Dancehall

is diverse enough to hold the interest of the previously apathetic. See britishseapower. co.uk

Download tracks: Baby, Stunde Null