The New Pornographers - 'Twin Cinema' (Matador Records) Released 22/08/05

Energetic Vancouver group The New Pornographers have produced three albums since forming in 1997. In 2000 there was 'Mass Romantic' and in 2003 'Electric Version'. The tunes on these albums were described as 'power pop', the sort of stuff you have blasting on the car stereo. Band leader A. C. Newman wanted this album to be a bit different and with the help of eight other band members and a truck full of instruments hes succeeded to a certain extent.

Opening and title track, 'Twin Cinema', is a catchy, Weezeresque tune and a promising start to the album. The album continues to bounce along nicely as drummer Kurt Dahle mixes beats from Kiss and Led Zeppelin on, Use It. Tracks like the jumpy, 'Jackie Dressed in Cobras' and by far the best track on the album, gentle and flowing, 'The Jessica Numbers', suggest that The New Pornographers may have the sound to fit into the current Brit band scene.

But, unfortunatley, the album dies in the middle with a collection of tracks that just blend into each other, creating an incoherent synthy mess. There is a brief recovery with last but one track, 'Streets of Fire', which has a hint of Wilco and some slightly surreal lyrics but by then the game is lost.

The problem with Twin Cinema is that most of the songs sound like something youve heard before but can't quite place. It is a little different but mainly because it is not really convincing as an album. You get the feeling that Newman tried to throw together a lot of ideas he had lying around and added a lot of instruments to create a confusing and random sound. After such a strong intro this album leaves the disgruntled listener feeling robbed of something potentially great.