Los Campesinos! - Romance Is Boring

Los Campesinos! are prolific and exhausting...

Rating: 8Los Campesinos! are prolific and exhausting, so it’s a surprise that ‘Romance Is Boring’ is this measured and mature. Gareth’s vocal is less shrill these days, his lyrics are less desperate (though just as despairing), and the band’s soundscapes are increasingly diverse. There are still cuts that hark backwards, especially ‘There Are Listed Buildings’ and the title track – both huge, shouty anthems – but there’s also room for tempo-slowing passages (‘200-102’), a mighty roar (‘Plan A’), a majestic ballad (‘Who Fell Asleep In’) and the dramatic crescendo of ‘The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future’. A big step forward.

For fans of: Johnny Foreigner, Deerhoof

Mike Haydock