With TV On The Radio's last album 'Dear Science' making many a critic's 'Best of 2008' list, expectations has been understandably high for its follow up. As well as being arguably their least experimental record, 'Nine Types of Light' is easily their most downbeat, and despite the fact that just as many tracks exhibit the band's familiar frantic drum beats and chant-like vocal style, the overriding mood of 'Nine Types of Light' is much more sombre than previous TVOTR records. It's a tone that suits them well, though, and sees them remain, as ever, impossible to pigeonhole.
'Will Do' is this album's pinnacle, strangely tender and emotionally affecting with its soft harmonies and insightful lyrics about the uncontrollable and inconvenient nature of love. 'Killer Crane', too, spends most of its time creating a warm and encompassing environment that subtly draws you in with its gently flowing melody. The boys haven't forgotten how to get hips shaking though, with the rhythm-centric 'Repetition' and the funky ode to all night dancing 'No Future Shock' among the album's finest up-tempo offerings.
The only real criticism to be made is that, despite its not unreasonable 44 minute running time, 'Nine Types of Light' still feels slightly too long. It feels like it should be winding up when it's only half way through. Whether that's down to TV On The Radio's unconventional song structures, and the fact that they often lack any real climax, or simply the more consistent mood and tone on this album is somewhat unclear. Either way, it barely detracts from the drama and intricacy in each of these tracks.
