ALBUM OF THE WEEK

Whatever you once thought about Iceage, good or bad, is about to change.Plowing Into The Field Of Loveis a radical, favourable new direction for the Danish foursome.

Piano gets a greater part to play, violin and brass are featured, there are clear-cut, defined riffs, and the band even slows down on occasion.

Within their early ’80s post-punk mould, Iceage mess with a number of new styles. ‘How Many’, with its half-time chorus and relatively uplifting melody, is almost anthemic. ‘Forever’ features a brass fanfare that never fails to catch you off guard. ‘Against The Moon’ is unexpectedly pretty, with a piano line set against violins and accordion. Musically, everything the band attempts lands.

What makes or breaks an Iceage album is singer Elias Bender Rњnnenfelt. He doesn’t sing so much as retch into the microphone. It worked perfectly for their former all-out attack, but with their new sonic palette it might not be as well suited to listeners. But it’s his voice that makes the songs original and gives the band its edge.

Plowing Into The Field Of Love is Iceage’s best record to date. On the basis of the changes heard here, when you think about how far they could take their sound in the future, the mind reels.

4/5.

Plowing Into The Field Of Loveis out now throughMatador/Remote Control.

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