Plaid – Spokes

Despite recording together for 14 years (much of that as part of The Black Dog), Ed Handley and Andy Turner still explore the syntax of electronica with awe and excitement. Tracks like “Crumax Rins” or the haunting synth fugue “Cedar City” may hint at the tenebrous dissonance of their earlier incarnation, but generally Spokes is passionate and optimistic. A remarkable selection of sound sculptures hewn from taut percussive textures (“Buns”), iridescent stabs of melody (“Get What You Gave”), crunchy beats (“Even Spring”) and quirky bouncing electro (“Upona”), this is intelligent and addictive.