Idlewild: 'Make Another World'

It comes as something of a surprise to learn that Idlewild still exist in 2007. In a world of skinny jeans and asymmetric haircuts, their brand of surging, unpretentious rock seems about as fashionable as Jeremy Clarkson, clad in double denim, dancing to ‘Come On Eileen’ at your uncle’s wedding. But, after parting company with Parlophone, their record label of eight years, they’ve managed to land a new deal with sympathetic indie Sanctuary. Reassuringly, they haven’t attempted to overhaul their sound or their defiantly nineties hairstyles.

First, the good news: Make Another World, their sixth album, is far from creatively bankrupt. The blistering disco-rock of ‘No Emotion’ deserves to become an indie disco staple: a ‘Since U Been Gone’ for people who’d rather throw darts at a photo of Morrissey than listen to a Kelly Clarkson song. Just as impressive are ‘Make Another World', which teams with the same widescreen ambition as recent Killers singles, and ‘Future Works’, which channels the spirit of Blondie’s ‘Union City Blues’ to convey a real sense of awestruck wonder. Its ringing guitar riff, ghostly female backing vocals and anthemic chorus are the album’s definite highlight.

However, too much of Make Another World is devoted to riff-heavy rock songs which fail to marry their frantic beats and bludgeoning choruses with anything resembling a hook. Tracks like ‘In Competition For The Worst Time’ and ‘Once In Your Life’ are undeniably stirring as you listen to them, but ten minutes later they rival that nineties remake of Psycho starring Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn in the instant forgetability stakes.

It would be heartwarming to report that Idlewild have survived a label change, transcended musical fashion and beaten the barber to make a great album. Sadly, Make Another World is merely an average one. Still, its brief flashes of inspiration suggest that, having rolled with the punches over the last couple of years, Idlewild might be poised to pack a few of their own.