Six albums in – three with mclusky and now three with Future Of The Left – and there’s no sign of Andy Falkous mellowing any. Lesser mortals might have quit by now, given his bands’ complete lack of commercial success, but they say anger is an energy, and it infuses every one of The Plot Against Common Sense’s 50 minutes.
From straight-up punk rock (‘I Am The Least Of Your Problems’) to knowing indie rock anthems (‘Goals In Slow Motion’) and Devo-ish synth jerkiness (‘Cosmo’s Ladder’) to sinister death marches (‘A Guide To Men’), the Cardiff band covers a lot of ground. It may be anarchic, but it’s also exhilarating.
As usual, Falkous’s merciless lyrics are worth the entry fee alone and here they’re more surgically aimed than ever. There’s the odd easy target along the way, but few can skewer them with as finely honed a combination of wit and ire, nor set the words to such ferociously hook-laden noise. Outstanding, again.