Blonde Redhead: 23 LP

Blonde Redhead's 2004 album Misery Is A Butterfly established them once and for all as one of the most distinctive and precious bands of their generation. Although conceived and recorded during a time of trauma, the album was a confident, thrilling and delicately-nuanced sweep of sound which enraptured the already-converted and won the band a whole new legion of fans. And although it marked a modulation away from the bittersweet starkness of previous releases, it was by far the most commercially successful release of the band's career, continuing the steady upward trajectory in sales.

2007 saw Blonde Redhead return with something even more spellbinding - 23. The album is as rich and densely-layered as its predecessor, but Misery's overall mood of wistfulness, melancholy and regret, was replaced by one of mystical wonder and renewed energy. The opening title track is hypnotic and rapturous - a hymn to the magic of change which sets the tone for the whole album. Ballads like "The Dress" and "Silently" are as emotionally resonant as anything the band have recorded, while uptempo moments like "Spring And By Summer Fall" and "SW" soon took their place alongside long-time favorites "Melody Of Certain Three" and "In Particular" as highlights of the band's live set.

23 was recorded and produced by Blonde Redhead in New York City during the second half of 2006. The engineer throughout was Chris Coady (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV On The Radio). Sharing mixing duties were Alan Moulder (My Bloody Valentine, Killers, Nine Inch Nails) and Rich Costey (Franz Ferdinand, Muse, Bloc Party).