Sons and Daughters - This Gift

A single-minded producer can have a profound effect on a band's direction. When former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler was asked to produce Sons and Daughters' third album, his message to the band was: "Don't be afraid of writing pop songs." As a result, the songs are tightly packed, chorus-driven and commercial. But that's not the whole story. This isn't pop in the fake-tanned, bleached-teeth sense; this is pop that's been led astray, casting off its superficial skin to reveal a dark, sexual core. Adele Bethel has matured as an observational songwriter, singing convincingly about lost souls, stifling relationships, soul-searching and inane celebrity culture. Sonically, the predatory guitar of Gilt Complex, the Motown stomp of The Nest or the rockabilly zip of Chains all testify to a new-found diversity. There are songs where the band's old limitations re-emerge, but to make a 12-track album where potential singles outnumber duds is a feat in itself. [Nick Mitchell]