The National: High Violet

Label: 4AD

It’s appropriate that after two albums on Beggars Banquet, The National switched to affiliate 4AD, because this album has more of a 4AD sound to it – a little quieter and less brassily anthemic, more subtly concerned with texture. The band is still instantly recognizable, as proven by all the customers taking note of it as I played it here before the release date, so it’s not as though there’s been a major reworking of its trademark sound. The retooling brings even richer production, and with it a greater variety of instrumental timbres. The most important one, though – Matt Berninger’s utterly distinctive singing – remains the focus, and the group’s knack for grand crescendos is only improved by having more instrumental tools with which to build them up. (The CD comes in a limited edition deluxe version. We've sold out of the numbered purple vinyl; the regular version is for sale here) (Steve)