Distractions

Largely recorded prior to the pandemic but finished during lockdown, the veteran British band heavily eschewed their traditional lush orchestral arrangements for a sparse, minimalistic approach. The record is anchored by an eleven-minute opening epic and incorporates prominent drum machines, dub basslines, and Stuart Staples' incredibly weary, spoken-word baritone. It operates as a highly experimental, hypnotic divergence from their usual chamber pop elegance.