British Sea Power, Valhalla Dancehall (Beggars) 3/5
It’s little wonder British Sea Power lent their moody post-punk to director Robert Flaherty’s bleak film Man Of Aran. There’s always been a downcast aspect to their music which has earned them comparisons to Joy Division. Four albums on, the Brighton sextet seem to have lost none of the fire in their collective bellies which propelled them to indie darling-dom via their 2003 debut album The Decline Of British Power. Frontman Yan seems to be poking fun at pop’s conventions on songs like the grungey Thin Black Sail and there’s just enough light delicate moments to counter the denser, more heavy-going numbers. Still, you probably wouldn’t want to listen to Valhalla Dancehall on a dull, rainy day.
Alison Grinter
