Dark on Fire

IMPORT. Though a departure from their previous works, Dark on Fire is a welcome change for Turin Brakes that should appeal to fans old and new. The group flirts with both garage rock and new wave/post-punk revival on this offering, but don't settle on either style. Rather than sounding inconsistent, the approach emphasizes the indie rockers' versatility and showcases Olly Knights' haunting, unconventional vocals. Dark on Fire is evenly divided between introspection and more upbeat (if not cheerful) numbers, though their ability to work as a well-honed ensemble is a constant throughout. The album does tend toward the lighter side -- even the more rollicking songs aren't particularly hard or heavy -- and has a certain transparency to it, with each layer (vocals, guitar, bass, drums, and occasionally piano, strings, or keyboards) clearly audible and given equal weight. - All Music Guide