Laeto – III

In case you haven't heard of them – and if that's true, you're Scottish and consider yourself a fan of quality rock music, shame on you – this Dundonian quartet are approaching their 12th year. Astonishing previous album Zwoa was voted a debatably conservative 41st by readers in our Scottish Albums of The Decade, and this latest opus is every bit the equal of that earlier masterpiece.

Besides recurring nods to cult Kansan post-rockers The Appleseed Cast are some more apparent classic rock influences, with Thin Lizzy playing an especially significant part in III. The songs are generally longer than before, reflecting Laeto's whole-hearted embrace of their prog rock roots, yet it avoids lapsing into self-indulgence with admirable restraint. Closing tracks Ecuador and Mount Black Prince deserve special attention, with the former representing the group at their most accessible, poppy best, and the latter brilliantly showcasing the clever way they marry melody with innovation.

Ultimately, far from parting amidst some hilarious, acrimonious fist fight, it was a geographic difficulty that eased Laeto into a gigging standstill. Given that fact, repeated airings of III actually serve to infuriate – a petition for their immediate resumption of normal services is surely inevitable. [Austin Tasseltine]