Kick Up The Fire and Let The Flames Break Loose [CD + DVD] [Enhanced] [Limited Edition]

Be aware, this is by no means the case! The slightly experimental leanings hinted at by the electronica and synth work in the first album have been elaborated on and play a much more integral role second time around, though guitars, bass and drums still dominate (as they should do in a rock band!). Those of you who may be looking for a stripped back-to-basics garage rock band (ala The White Stripes and Datsuns) will not find such an ethos here. The Cooper Temple Clause, in much the same way as The Music (but darker and not as upbeat), take account of the last ten years of musical progression and incorporate dance-like beats and all manners of knob-twiddling into their music.

The emotions expressed through the tracks seem to have changed as well, the riotous anger of "Panzer Attack" being mostly (but not entirely) replaced by some more reflective and sentimental tracks. I would not say the album is an easy listen (though not as obscure as The Mars Volta), particularly in the second half where I found there was a tendency for tracks to drift from one to the next - not a problem in itself but it means that "Kick Up The Fire, And Let The Flames Break Loose" is less a collection of self-contained, easily identifiable numbers, and more an experience that needs to be listened to as a whole. The final track, "Written Apologies", clocks in at roughly 10 minutes, and is truly a stunning piece of work. The gradual changes, looping sections, and returns to earlier parts give the instrumental an epic quality and really exemplify how the band have progressed.

The new direction has, however, provided some fantastic melodies that, while not instantly engaging (to me at any rate) really grow on you with subsequent listens and become infectious. "The Same Mistakes" (album opener) and "Talking To A Brick Wall" (one of the three tracks penned by Tom Bellamy rather than Dan Fisher) particularly caught me, in addition to the instantly hooky "Promises, Promises". Ben Gautrey's voice seems overall to have lost some of its raw power (probably because the songs do not require it) leading to a more mellow feeling album.

Hopefully after this effort, the band should get the widespread recognition that they thoroughly deserve, in addition to their existing cult following. The live experience certainly lives up to the high expectations left by their albums (Reading 2003) and "Kick Up The Fire And Let The Flames Break Loose" is a fantastic follow-up effort. Recommended to existing fans as well as anyone who wants to listen to a forward thinking, innovative rock band.

The album hinges on the fact its more like a collection of great singles, despite flowing much better than its predecessor. Each track hits the next in a coherent manner, but we're not looking at an album in parts, it works as a whole too. From Promises Promises the album hammers into top gear and doesn't let go until the extended outro to Written Apologies which I found to be the only damper to what is an album of the year candidate, in my opinion. The wonderful paradox that this band create is shown on a run of three tracks (Talking To A Brick Wall, Into My Arms and Blind Pilots) which produce the kind of lyrical lost love lament you'd expect from Damien Rice, but set against Primal Scream/Muse instrumentation. Stunning!

The Cooper Temple Clause are a gem amongst bands. Unlike their heroes Primal Scream, they fuse rock and dance effortlessly, when they're not doing almost heartfelt songs such as the opener, The Same Mistakes. The only time on the album that it feels forced is during the finale when a dance like outro is attached on the end of an attempt to match previous closer, Murder Song.

I'm not great at summing up an album in words, I can express myself best by stressing my point verbally, but believe me; if you enjoyed the debut then you should adore this. Muse like at times, it's well worth shelling out a few quid on.