THE WEDDING PRESENT: VALENTINA

Veteran British indie band The Wedding Present have released their ninth album, full of perceptive, sardonic insights on love and its various formations. From the infectious opening track Your Dead, with its lyrics “you appal me/ okay call me”, one knows front man David Gedge has lost none of his lyrical wit or depth. Nor has the 36-year-old band lost any of its trademark frenetic guitar sound or jangling rhythms, as tracks like You Jane and the emotionally heavy Deer Caught in the Headlights illustrate. Similarly, End Credits and Mystery Date showcase some of the catchiest and most energetic melodies the band has produced since 1991’s Seamonsters, while maintaining their signature indie-rock qualities. Considering their ever-changing line-up, such familiarity is a testament to Gedge’s vision. But it also negates any groundbreaking potential from developing, had the group taken a more exploratory approach. But with bigger bass lines, dreamy female backing vocals (provided by ex-bass player Terry de Castro) and glimpses of expansive feedback, the band maintain their relevancy in a field dominated by bands they often originally helped to inspire. ***1/2