I Am Kloot released what was for me at least, the album of the year in 2001 (Natural History) with its often dark lyrical content and frankly haunting melodies certainly changed my life at three decibels.

The eagerly anticipated second album from my favourite Manchester 3-piece was leaked onto the internet earlier this year ahead of an actual release in September via Echo. Eponymous, this record presents a much rawer sound to the gently melodic songs of yore, a prime example being the recent single Life In A Day, built around a heavy rhythm section and apparently originating from a studio jam its not quite the sing-along comeback Id been expecting. Whilst it takes a few listens to get into, it eventually had me tapping its almost primal drum beat without realising it everywhere I went. Having caught them live a few times before hearing the album I have to say that LIAD wasnt the standout track by a long way.

But I digress, back to the rest of the album. If you were lucky enough to get hold of a copy of Untitled #1 back in March then youll be familiar with the opening track. Personally I think it speaks volumes that this hasnt been performed live at all yet.

However, From Your Favourite Sky has been played live for a few years now and was originally intended as the first full release single from the album. Everything about it from the subtly swooping violins, to the lyrics (and so what is love?/ and who am i/ to dare to pull the stars from your favourite sky?) just works perfectly, and if this doesnt crack the top 40 on release therell be no-one more surprised than me.

Another track that I think works really well live is A Strange Arrangement Of Colour, harking back to some of their (whisper it) jazzier moments (see Titanic and Sunlight Hits The Snow) this manages to combine fairly dark lyrical matter with the funkiest glockenspiel playing this side of Burkina Faso. Or anywhere come to that.

Proof is another standout track, released in demo form with Morning Rain a couple of years ago, the finished version adds little but still sounds fantastic. Whilst not likely to bother the likes of (Insert latest shit pop act here) in the charts its easily still good enough to earn Johnny Bramwell an Ivor Novello, should, by some freak accident, this album come to wide public attention.

The closing triumvirate of Not A Reasonable Man, 3 Feet Tall and The Same Deep Water As Me couldnt be more different, going from acoustic strum-along to all-out funk-rocker (well, as near as Kloot get to all-out), and a blissful ride through rain, sea and heart-stains.

What makes this album really special is the excellent production, not being fully released I dont know exactly whos done what, but on the material released so far theyve used Scott Alexander, Julian Gaskell, Chris Potter and Ian Broudie of Lightening Seeds fame. When you hear the squeak as fingers slide along guitar strings at the start of 3 Feet Tall, you dont think its sloppy, rather it all adds to the character of the song, and just makes it that little more honest than a lot of the sterilised sounds around today (Thats not just confined to the pop world either, listen to Heathen Chemistry and if you can find the real heart and soul of it, Ill give you a tenner).

Parts of this used for a cioa.co.uk review, also written by me