When a trailer for Keane's fourth studio album Strangeland appeared online back in February, we were immediately relieved to hear the familiar twinkles of their much-loved piano pop after 2008's synth-driven Perfect Symmetry.
So you can imagine our apprehension when an album sampler arrived at the Digital Spy office last week. Slipping the CD into our computer, we were more than eager to find out if the remainder of Keane's new material carried on the seraphic tones of lead single 'Silenced By The Night' - and we're happy to report that it does.
That's not to say the other tracks aren't of a high standard. 'Disconnected' is one of the more mellow songs we nodded along to, while 'On The Road' hears Tom Chaplin's chirpy vocal over a hook Elton John would struggle to ignore. Despite their differences, both tracks reinforce Strangeland as a redemptive record where a wandering Keane are trying to work their way through life's troubles.
The tone of the record - and quite possibly Keane's intention of relaying their evolution as a band - is nicely summed up on stirring mid-tempo number 'The Starting Line', where Chaplin reflects: "You think you've done your journey and then you stumble and find there's such a long way to go." Again - it's slightly amazing and has left us very excited for the full album.
Keane's new album Strangeland is released in the UK on May 7 and the US on May 8.
Watch the trailer for Keane's Strangeland below:
