We Were Promised Jetpacks

We Were Promised Jetpacks

Unravelling

(Fatcat)

Had the Sunday Herald begun its now annual Top 50 Scottish Albums of the Year feature in 2011, there's no doubt that In The Pit Of The Stomach by We Were Promised Jetpacks would have taken the top spot. As it is, Unravelling is certainly in contention for 2014. This third album by the Edinburgh quintet sees them settled into a very sure place, distilled down to what's essentially them, making intricate rock music that puts major-label bands to shame. You could argue that, as a whole, Unravelling moves at a steadier mid-pace than the raw rock howl of its predecessor, but that only means there are more opportunities to discover the incredible musical detail that's delivered on each of the instruments and laid out through Paul Savage's impeccable production. On instrumental Peace Of Mind and songs such as I Keep It Compromised, they prove themselves masters of the slowly escalating thrill, preferring a drip-feed release of adrenaline to a sudden-explosion cliche. A grower rather than a grabber, perhaps, but brilliant none the less.

Alan Morrison