Soulsavers - 'It’s Not How Far You Fall, It’s The Way You Land' (V2) Released 02/04/07

'It’s Not How Far You Fall, It’s the Way You Land' is not a party album. Not unless the kind of parties you go too consist of staring out at the stormy night from a cold, candle-lit room, knocking back whiskey from the bottle and praying to God for forgiveness for some unspeakable sin. No, this record doesn’t want to go out. It wants to stay in with you, whisper you its secrets, inject you with fear, heal your wounds and hopefully save your soul.

If 'It’s Not How Far You Fall… ' is more of a grower than an instant hit, then its not shown on opener 'Revival'. A favourite on Zane Lowe’s radio show, the track burns with such slow intensity that, when he hears it, it will convince Richard Ashcroft to finally pack it all in. Ex-Screaming Trees frontman Mark Lanegan leads his choir through the first of many gospel-inflected tracks, and it’s enough to make you want to go and find the nearest church.

Having Lanegan’s tobacco-tarred growl onboard is a stroke of genius and no small feat given that Soulsavers’ Rich Machin has met the grunge icon only a handful of times. 'Spiritual's simple repeated refrain of “Jesus, I don’t want to die alone” sounds genuinely like the last breaths of dying man – in a good way, obviously – while his vocal on the cover of The Rolling Stones’ 'No Expectations' matches the Potteries-based duo’s production in turning the resignation of the original into a sense of sheer abandonment.

Stripped of Lanegan’s lead vocals, Soulsavers’ vision remains just as bleak. 'Ask the Dust', 'Arizona Bay' and the album’s untitled bonus track are desolate, unforgiving instrumental landscapes that invite you in but make no promises to return you safely home. But ultimately, Soulsavers do bring you back. 'It’s Not How Far You Fall… ' is a cathartic listen – often troubling, but always redemptive. In keeping with the album’s title, Soulsavers have landed with some style.