Sons and Daughters - This Gift

is Sons and Daughters’ first ‘pop album’. The ah-ah-ahs and na-na-nas are slicker, tighter and more knowing than before. In place of their long-standing homage to Scots folk, nods are directed towards Phil Spector’s production values (who else?!). The guitar sounds are cleaner, and there are fade-outs at the end of most of the record’s regulation twelve tracks.

And yet, it’s every bit as enjoyable as either ‘The Repulsion Box’ or ‘Love The Cup’. Probably moreso, in fact, as the deliberately faded glamour of ‘Gilt Complex’ attests and the Latin-infused ‘Chains’ confirms - you’re supposed to have fun here. The howling during the title track isn’t as ominous as it might’ve been under the direction of isn’t-he-everywhere producer Bernard Butler it’s all incredibly playful, and much better for being so. Trying to take the Glaswegians’ third album as seriously as its predecessor would ultimately ruin it. And hell, there’s the oddest hint of 90s Britpop in some of those carefully constructed guitar licks!

What’s more, Adele Bethel’s vocals are cleaner, smoother, less snarly than before. These are the kind of vocals you imagine Kylie would like to let loose with if she really were trying to capture ‘Supernature’-era Alison Goldfrapp. It makes those clever call-and-response vocal duels with Scott Paterson all the more bewitching.