Playground magazine

James Mercer has overcome just about every possible obstacle. The guy's in his forties now, a family man, but that hasn't affected the fire burning in him for fifteen years. Furthermore, the fact he's changed the band completely doesn't seem to be of too much influence, either. He's formed a new one bespoke and has done a good job with it - what with producer Richard Swift and Modest Mouse drummer Joe Plummer being in it and all, no mucking about. After five years of silence and expectations sky high, he managed to come up with a great album featuring all the ingredients the New Mexico band's always worked with: delicate pieces, magic compositions and instant pop anthems.