326) Suede - Antidepressants

A great debut with magical singles, dazzling second but lost the genius guitarist, defying the critics comeback on the third record, a drug addled fourth and let's be honest by the fifth the public and possibly the band had lost interest.

Seven years after they had last performed they returned for a series of live dates and decided to continue, the first Suede incarnation was fourteen years with five records now we are fifteen years into their return and here they are delivering a fifth record again and unlike last time they are not diminishing.

Disintegrate is pounding drums, Anderson talking before him and Oakes come in rousing from the off it's clear after the ferocious Autofiction that they are not letting up.

Dancing with the Europeans is an anthem of a song the band all hitting their mark and a guitar solo to enhance not distract.

The title track we have a new phasing style from Anderson, it fits well, I'm hearing Devoto (no terrible thing) and I've read he is calling this record their post punk one, so why not.

Bassist Matt Osman seems to play himself down although clearly he is essential to the band and The Sound and the Summer he delivers a deep woven bass to elevate, he's a man who listens to Jah Wobble's time in PIL and Brett shows as we close side one that his voice is in great nick on Somewhere Between an Atom and a Star.

Broken Music for Broken People (another anthem, wait to you hear them hitting the chorus) and Criminal Ways both songs they are looking for a euphoric hit, they achieve it.

Trance State and Osman has taken Wobble off and put Peter Hook on and there is an electronic feel to the track with Neil Coding adding elements but Suede can pull at the heartstrings as June Rain starts in ballad territory before Richard Oakes decides to excel, who would have thought what he would achieve replacing Butler.

The record ends with Life is Endless, Life is a Moment, each member has stepped up on this record so with tribal drums, brooding bass, swaying keyboards, atmospheric guitars and a lead singer who is more assured than every they take us out on a high.

Not sure many bands could deliver such a quality on their first record, to do this on your tenth defies belief.

9/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: Dancing with Europeans