The second album from Chicago experimental three piece volcano! is a truly unpredictable mesh of styles and genres - pop, punk, metal, Spanish guitar, free-jazz and soul among them. It's no wonder Africa Just Wants to Have Fun was chosen as lead single with its catchy chorus and quirky raw guitar, but no sooner has it ended than Tension Loop's montage of electronic sound, unconventional drum rhythms and volatile vocals brings to mind Radiohead's more experimental moments.

Nowhere on Paperwork can you get too comfortable. Just as you've drifted into the wonder of its mesmeric slower moments you are shocked to attention by an unexpected cacophony of noise. '78 Oil Crisis demonstrates a perfect capability of creating dance-inducing poptastic tunes but volcano! choose never to indulge us for too long... mores the pity. Fairy Tale's use of distortion, effects, repetitive structure and retching vocals is definitely not for those whose ears are too easily offended. Certain lyrics are not for the easily offended either.

There are plenty of moments of brilliance here but they're far too short-lived and never far from the many instances of "weird for the sake of weird," making Paperwork gruelling listening at times. With the obvious thought that has gone into their arrangements, volcano! are nothing if not defiant and intriguing, if just that little bit too self-indulgent.