Its been a few year’s since The Radio Dept unleashed their sonic layered debut album ‘Lesser Matters’, which went on to gain huge critical acclaim, and loads of chart positions in the end of year Top 10’s. Last autumn The Radio Dept ditched a whole new album because ‘it sounded very electronic and too many bands were doing that kind of pop already’. So a year later and they’ve left XL Recordings and resurfaced on Track & Field with the stunning ‘Pet Grief’, a beautiful album that shimmers and glistens while bathing in smacked out melancholy, every track floats in a fuzzy cloud of bliss, but there’s always an underlying threatening edge. The opening ‘It’s Personal’ sets the mood with empty room piano, emotional pads and a troubled shoe gazing guitar riff that wouldn’t sound out of place next to The Cure’s ‘Lullaby’. ‘Pet Grief’ is one of the must have albums of 2007, and it confirms The Radio Dept are a very special outfit.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: DEAN THATCHER
