After the experimental soul of their last two albums, Tindersticks have decided to go back to basics. Which, in their case, means yet more sombre compositions born out of early morning psychosis, with slow, mournful strings and lyrics about failed relationships, unfulfilled dreams and suppressed violence. There's the usual duet, this time with husky Mexican-American singer Lhasa De Sala, and a spoken word track in which frontman Stuart Staples mumbles lines from a play by the late Sarah Kane (apparently a huge 'Sticks fan). Not exactly a great departure, then - but when the results are as beautiful as they frequently are here, it seems downright churlish to complain. In some ways, in fact, the music's very familiarity works in its favour, making it feel as comforting and reassuring as a visit from an old friend. Quite simply, no-one does nocturnal gloom quite as elegantly as this lot - and if through some horrendous oversight you've yet to experience their charms, Waiting For The Moon is as good a place as any to start.
