Thanks to Keane, billowing Hollyoaks indie is insanely popular. As such, Embrace have timed their unlikely return to perfection. Following 2001’s leaden If You’ve Never Been, much of their spirited fourth album evokes the lighters-aloft romance of debut single “All You Good, Good People”. Furnished with choir and strings, “Ashes”, “Someday” and the Chris Martin-penned “Gravity” comprise an opening trio worthy, certainly, of Coldplay. But the record sags?the old, pedestrian Embrace return, and Danny McNamara’s mawkish lowing grates?leaving the bombastic salvo of “Near Life” and “Out Of Nothing” to restore credibility. Well; it could’ve been worse.
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