Album Review: Lawson, Perspective

The indie-boy-band-with-guitars return with the long-awaited follow-up to their massively successful debut, 2012's Chapman Square. Following a short intro filled with more ambience than an Eno effects rack, they immediately hit full overload on 'We Are The Fire', which is all chiming, reverb-laden U2 guitars, layered textures and massed voices.

Already familiar as the catchy single, 'Money' blends a reggafied rhythm with a rousing chorus. The toned-down 'Where My Love Goes' is a mid-tempo ballad that provides respite from the aural storm - it's a decent song with mass appeal that makes you wonder why they don't do more of this kind of thing.

Meanwhile, 'Rio' doesn't have a lot in common with Duran Duran's hit of the same title - though it does extol the virtues of an exotic lifestyle and again features chopped, reggae-ish rhythms, swirling vocal effects and an irresistible melody. Frantic rhythms underpin 'When I'm Old', while lush strings swell over the soaring ballad 'Only Water'.

Elsewhere clubby blips and beats surround 'Lions Den', while 'Love And War' sounds like it was designed by a committee. It's pretty insubstantial stuff for the most part - but it ticks all the right boxes and will appeal to their fans in droves.