TAKE a closer look behind many of the best pop songs and there is a dark lyric. Turin Brakes have now been together for 17 years (their debut album was nominated for a Mercury Prize) but far from sounding jaded, Invisible Storm is up with their best work.

Enjoyable throughout, this eighth album is much better than might have been expected at this stage of their career. Recorded in the Monmouthshire studio where Queen laid down Bohemian Rhapsody, the atmosphere has inspired founder members (and one time primary school friends) Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian.

Lost In The Woods is wonderful; a classic combination of winning melody and dark, enigmatic words. The bouncy Life Forms is borne skyward by a catchy bass groove.

At times the sound recalls The Waterboys (early 90s' vintage), and while the overall effect is a long way from contemporary (the opener Would You Be Mine almost goes U2), the tunes here should endure once the squalls of fashion have moved on.