Now 5 albums old, Idlewild are still unfashionable to a music press long since passed the point of attempting cartwheels upon the release of their albums. Added to which, the band themselves have happily slipped off a 'major' label to the "yes, our audience is more selective" home of Sequel.
Still, listening to "Make Another World" you get the sense that these issues don't trouble the band. Infact, rather than trying to consciously move in a new direction, or revert back to their earlier punkish roots, the band have instead cut another melodic, well crafted album that plays to their strengths and sits comfortably with the rest of their canon.
However, as opener "In Competition For The Worst Time" proves rather pointedly, on this album the band's spirit is clearly a bit more energised. The guitars are frequently notched up to create a sound and perspective they've been edging away from in recent releases. To underline that things are now more focused the record finishes at a snappy 35 minutes. It's a record with a dynamic built much like a live set, and so not a moment feels wasted. Songs range from thrashy noise-pop of "If It Takes You Home", to the slightly New Order-ish current single "No Emotion".
That Idlewild have never had mainstream success is not an issue, as they don't appear to have courted it either. It's hard to assess whether "Make Another World" will win them many new fans, but it's a great record and so ensures that Idlewild deserve not to lose any old ones.