The Optimist LP by Turin Brakes (Source Records)...Out Now

Okay you've probably never heard of them but I bet you will soon enough...in this time of turgid 'middle of the road rock' and rehashed punk masquarading as alternative music, bands like Turin Brakes are one of the few shining lights.

Coming on like the ultimate 21st Century comedown band, Turin Brakes have crafted one of those rare albums that you just have play again as soon as it finishes. It's amazing that they haven't already been lofted and over-hyped to stupid heights by the fawning and crawling music press as they're far superior to the flat and deviod of originality Starsailor and the plain boring Coldplay.

Starting with the emotionallly raw and blindingly beautiful 'Feelling Oblivion', 'The Optimist LP'  is an album that has heartbraking after heartbraking melody all of which are wrapped in slow-burning and mesmeric tunes. Other highlights include the achingly wonderful 'Future Boy', the harmonius and lingering former single 'The Door' and the title track that closes the album. However all of the tunes are amazingly infectious, the first time you hear it you want more and by the second listen they've crawled under your skin to remain with you for a long time.

If you need to take sometime to chill after a heavy day or a big night out then this is the perfect remedy. However don't plan on going anywhere as once this has got you in it's grasp it ain't gonna let you go to you've heard it all.

by ChrisM