January 22, 2010

Album review: Spoon - Transference (Anti)

The Texas natives' seventh album should finally give them the UK success they deserve

7 / 10 Like Wilco, Texas’ Spoon have long attempted to mix rock accessibility with wild experimentation. Unlike Jeff Tweedy’s gang, though, their efforts haven’t really been embraced over this side of the pond. Shame, as this, their seventh album, might be one of their best, with the band and leader Britt Daniel sounding as energised and playful as a puppy. The best songs could almost be an updating of The Beatles’ ‘White Album'. Epic ‘I Saw The Light’ builds for nearly three minutes before changing time signature and launching into a circling, apocalyptic groove Spoon’s namesakes Can would approve of, while highlight ‘Written In Reverse’ is a weird bluesy piano rocker with hoarse howls and drunkenly compelling guitar.

Tom Pinnock

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