The ninth album from
Turin Brakes, 2018's
Invisible Storm, has a certain feel of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," and fans of the U.K. indie rock outfit's folk-inflected indie pop will be glad to know the band has delivered more of what they've been looking for. That said,
Invisible Storm is a more upbeat set than 2016's
Lost Property; the tempos are a bit faster, the melodies are more enthusiastic, and the previous LP's lovelorn mood has given way to a sunnier perspective, dwelling less on romance gone stale and more on making sense of the present.
Turin Brakes haven't entirely gone all smiles and sunshine on us, as the blues-infused "Deep Sea Diver" and melodramatic title track demonstrate, but the energy and high spirits of "Would You Be Mine" and "Wait" and the emotional warmth of "Lost in the Wood" tip the scales in favor of a cautious optimism. And
Turin Brakes are in fine form on
Invisible Storm; Olly Knights' vocals are expert and emotive without excess showboating, Gale Paridjanian's guitar work is intelligent and evocative whether he's picking electric or acoustic, bassist Rob Allum and drummer Eddie Myer help give the backings strength and personality, and Ali Staton's production and mix lend just the right amount of sheen to the finished product.
Invisible Storm doesn't move
Turin Brakes very far forward stylistically, but it doesn't sound rote either, and given that they've been together for close to two decades, the album finds them delivering music that feels fresh and inspired; this is what
Turin Brakes do, and
Invisible Storm shows they continue to do it quite well. ~ Mark Deming