Joanne Shemmans

This album sees the band bringing fresh energy by drawing on post-punk influences, while still remaining true to their signature sound. It's a tough call, but they pull it off effortlessly. If you're looking for a rewrite of their first two albums, this ain't it, but that's no bad thing. Over twenty years since YAYM, KOL show a maturity in their evolving sound, and it's refreshing to know they're not afraid to try a shift in direction at this point in their career. Stand out points are the brooding 'Ballerina Radio', slick single 'Nowhere to Run', catchy rocker 'Nothing To Do,' and the biggest surprise of the album, final track 'Seen', an atmospheric close to the album which might be their best work of the last decade. Lyrically, much of the album has an underlying post-apocalyptic theme, displaying a sense of anxiety around the current state of the world. If I had a criticism, it's the hesitancy to lean further into this theme - softer tracks like 'Ease Me On' and 'Don't Stop the Bleeding' seem more suited to inclusion on previous albums such as Walls, and slightly jar the listener. Regardless, with CWPHF the band have proved they're not prepared to rest on their laurels, and are unafraid to try something new in order to keep their sound fresh. I'm intrigued to see where their next move takes them.