The Kissaway Trail
‘Sleep Mountain’
(Bella Union)

Scandinavia’s answer to The Arcade Fire return some three years after their self-titled debut that, while more grower than shower, at least hinted at a bright future for their grandiose indie-pop anthems. ‘Sleep Mountain’ follows much the same formula – catchy, shimmering layers produced with a glossy and hearty sheen – but, disappointingly, their time off hasn’t yielded many new ideas, let alone anything to match previous efforts like ‘Smother + Evil = Hurts’ or ‘61’. At a time when Win Butler’s rabble aren’t the indie poster-boy darlings of old, you’ve got to feel this is an opportunity wasted for The Kissaway Trail to fill or remould his shoes in their own design. Sadly, ‘Sleep Mountain’, for all its glittering charm, does neither.

Sam Coare