My Latest Novel - 'Deaths And Entrances' (Bella Union) Released 18/05/09

If ever a statement of intent was aimed at an audience, none could signal such a change in direction as 'All In All In All Is All', the opening salvo from My Latest Novel's sophomore release, 'Deaths And Entrances'. It's a gutsy and robust work of reverb guitars that flexes muscle throughout the album, as though MLN are hankering for the evergreen territory enjoyed by Snow Patrol and The Editors. Either way, the Greenock five-piece consisting of Chris and Gary Deveney, Laura McFarlane, Paul McGeachy and Ryan King have clearly got the bigger stages in mind.

Their debut release 'Wolves' was a truly Caledonian and lilting affair, primarily acoustic and romantic with cheery violin and multi-part harmonies, it was an album that built a strong following and saw MLN open for The Pixies as well as The Dears, Smog, and British Sea Power.Clearly the winds are up My Latest Novel's sails on 'Deaths And Entrances'.

'Dragontrap' confirms the baby hasn't been thrown out with the bath-water as time and atmosphere changes are brought about with a bottle-neck wall of sound from coruscating guitars, and the ballad-book is further enhanced by the bitter-sweet 'Lacklustre', while 'Hopelessly, Endlessly' is a stirring track with strong emotional undercurrents - like Mogwai on Horlicks and valerian whilst aspiring to an Arcade Fire epic with funereal organ. 'A Dear Green Place' sounds like both Morrissey and Guy Garvey, a romantic sound with the song seemingly informed by the dreach Glasgow weather giving way to seasonally affected disorder, singing "...I don't dream, how could I ever dream, when my nightmares are entrances...", but is in fact a far more picaresque affair than all that, painting a Blakeian hell.

'Deaths And Entrances' is an album at peace with itself and direction despite the battlegrounds. 'I Declare A Ceasefire' opens a trilogy of war-related songs and is one of the outstanding moments to be had, a sure-fire anthem as the song builds to a unabashed breakdown, singing - "...lower your weapons,ooohhhhhhhh I declare a change of heart...". 'Argument Against The Man' addresses the war-mongering nation with diplomacy and a light Motown-like riffing rhythm that gives way to an angular close, while the wonderful 'If the Accident Will' brings the personal and impersonal into perspective, singing - "Just when the war began, you left my side..." and moves onto uncharted sonic directions as vocal samples and modulations square up to a pugilist Eno-like production.

'Re-Appropriation Of The Meme' may sound a pretentious title that requires the Concise Oxford, but is less controversial than the post-Darwinian concept with it's cryptic Andrew Bird-like lyrics - "...in sticks, the fire burned..." delivered with a Chris Martin-like faltering vocal, and 'The Greatest Shakedown' is both brassy and accordion drenched as the verses are repeated in harmonies, "...let's fleece a few old friends...".

In ambitions the fire burned. 'Deaths And Entrances' is a pole-vault over their debut, 'Wolves'. Maybe even a caber toss! Less parochial sounding than 'Wolves', 'Deaths And Entrances' never ceases to flex it's biceps and show strength in its' identity and their Glasgow DNA. By no means a classic, the lyrics at times get lost amongst the melee and the urgency to strike and I dare anyone to be able to sing a full song. Yet, I concur, it is very much in tune with our times and a power-house of an album, full of inventiveness and versatility.