Interpol - 'Interpol' (Soft Limit) Released: 13/09/10

Ever since Interpol emerged they have lurked in shadows. Be it the literal shadows their morose image projects or those cast by their New York contemporaries The Strokes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the band of black-clad gloom poppers have struggled to stamp a defining moment on their career. Unfortunately this self titled record, the bands fourth to date, does not break new ground for Interpol, however it is a typically solid release from a band who if they’re no longer exciting have become dependable.

Opening with the maudlin ’All The Ways’, the record instantly taps at the recesses of the listener's brain which fell hard for ’Obstacle 1’ and its icy, detached stare. Epic and foreboding, 'All The Ways’ suggests that Interpol no longer feel the need to up the tempo to impress. Maturity has brought a sense of refinement to the band's sound too with much of this eponymous record playing out at a stoic but confident pace. ’Barricade’ and ’Lights’ will join ’Evil’ and ’Slow Hands’ and indie DJs' go-to Interpol songs but ultimately their four-for beats and quick melodies tell a different tale to the majority of the album they call home.

Interpol don't sprint and dart, instead they stride as best they can - dragging a trailer of epic behind them. It’s not exactly heart pumping stuff and parts of ’Interpol’ can be dull, veering on tedious. However it would be all too easy for Interpol to reach a mid-life crisis at this point in time and begin experimenting with sounds and styles alien to them. It is to their advantage then that Paul Banks et al have identified their strengths and played to them. ’Memory Serves’ is particularly impressive with Banks's voice blossoming from the roots and foundations of his bands gargantuan instruments and sweetly chanted backing vocals. Elsewhere, ’Always Malaise’ uses restraint as a deadly tool whereas ’Summer Well’ opens a gap in the curtains and allows a chink of light in, providing a much needed moment of contrast.

You can understand why bassist Carlos Dengler chose to leave Interpol after he finished recording this album. The band don’t feel like a gang of outsiders any more, rather more a band slipping into routine and hinting at predictability. That said, Interpol have a solid and strong routine that has born an album of brooding intensity and muscular displays of power.