The Rakes are caught between two stools: they’re not commercial enough to rival the likes of The Feeling yet not sufficiently ‘indie’ to claim any post-punk credibility.
Recently, they escaped to Berlin to ‘rescue’ their sound from the London scene’s influence (and, one assumes, save on the rent). Alas, they’ve returned with an album which is shockingly bland, as demonstrated by ho-hum tracks like ‘Shackleton’ and ‘The Woes Of The Working Woman’.
Still, it’s not all bad. The first single, ‘1989’, has a Strokesy feel, and a sing-along melody that’s well placed now spring is upon us. ‘The Light From Your Mac’ and ‘The Final Hill’ also feel comfortable in their own skin.
Ultimately, though, The Rakes’ art-school cool has started to wear thin – and Klang is a klanger.

Key Track: ‘Muller’s Ratchet’