If this sounds like a defiant album, there's a very good reason - Lupine Howl is made up of musicians who used to be in Spiritualized but were summarily sacked by that band's maverick leader Jason Pierce. It may well have been a blessing in disguise, as the Howl's blend of blues-rock and psychedelic soul has already won them a strong reputation. While it suffers from a lack of strong songs, their debut album has a refreshing sense of ambition that carries it through its patchier moments. If Pierce isn't jealous, he should be.
