The harmonious fantasists’ sophomore album grounds itself in reality without losing sparkle

This UK quartet waste no time shirking their reputation as the goth-tinged fantasists of their self-titled debut.

Cue 13 belting pop melodies, harmonised, sighing vocals and warm, Spector-ish production to ram the point home.

Right from the opening Tell Me, the Fall’s songs canter along confidently, vocals sublimely matched to tambourine tinkle, soft but constant thrumming basslines and glowing guitar.

Even when they strip it back for the pleading Daniel, with its refrain ‘Please believe me/say you’ll never leave me’, it’s always delivered with a gentle, polished touch.

A new maturity is evident among these songs, too, tackling the advent of adulthood with a palpable sense of uncertainty – searching for a “shooting star to point me in the right direction” (Shooting Star) just one example.

But an uplifting warmth underpins the album, a blast of hummable, summery pop; peppy with a smooth, soothing finish.

3 stars