The Futureheads - This Is Not The World

Shun the non-believers!
After being rejected by their original label, 679 Recordings, following what was regarded by many as a weak second album, Sunderland’s finest managed to pull a blinder out of the bag, instantly proving all the naysayer’s wrong.
Upon first glance, The Futureheads third effort, brought out on their own label Nul Records, seems to swell with the energy and youthful essence of their much loved debut material. From the opening track, ‘Beginning Of The Twist’, the album stomps into life, hinting from the title that this album marks a new direction for the band, and for their attitude towards how to navigate through the harsh music industry, and get out the other side unscathed.
Despite retaining the same thrashy and pumping element to their music, it also seems as if the band have rebuilt their sound into a more stronger and well polished version of earlier gems, such as 'Decent Days And Nights'. The now trademark harmonic layers still remain, but are now somewhat dampened by more intense guitar work, and instrumentation.
Other key tracks where this shift can be heard include 'Walking Backgrounds', 'Think Tonight' and 'Broke Up The Time', all of which hold the collection together via their tight and up tempo song structures, delivering insanely catchy choruses along the way. It also seems as if the band have taken a more intimate route in places, as heard in relaxed single 'Radio heart', which tells a tale of lust, and the endless searching for a soul mate through your favourite music. A similar message of tender heartbreak and the folie of youth settles neatly in 'Hard To Bear' documenting a messy breakup. This intimate quality itself acts as a gentle hark back to their more pop influenced early work.
As the album weaves its way to a climactic ending with 'See What You Want', it is clear to the listener that The Futureheads really have matured, both in musical direction and attitude since their ill fated second release. There tends to be a tone floating over the album, reflecting the bands own stance towards their growth. Over the past two years, they have raised the bar for their indie contemporaries to reach, and have asserted the attitude that they're happy with their work here, and that they are never going to change again for anybody. It's their music, it's their rules! Now that's indie music!