Arc finds EE consolidating their sonic adventurer stature with a slightly more focused approach. Do they pull it off?

Even the kitchen sink was fearful of unrequested tinkering at the hands of EE on their Mercury-nominated debut. Arc finds the Manchester art-rockers less greedy, but just as adventurous.

The convulsive, jerkily enjoyable opener Cough Cough, for example, splices spidery synths and spindly guitar with choppy rhythm changes and Jonathan Higgs’ falsetto – a constant, occasionally grating feature.

This precision-engineered record, which boasts a worthwhile second disc of remixes and offcuts, takes cues from Bloc Party and Vampire Weekend while carving a resolutely singular path.

There’s splashy, abrasive production at times, but then there’ll be a widescreen Feet For Hands, with twinkling, softened guitar and pulsing drums, a cold and windswept Undrowned or a tender, low-key The Peaks to ponder on.

Adventurous, bold, sometimes over-extended and not always cohesive, Arc is nonetheless an exciting, vital album.

3 stars