PHOENIX Schallplatten & CDs

Review: It it ain't broke, don't bother thinking about trying to fix it. While the mantra clearly works for things like DIY jobs, or public transport routes, the same isn't always true of music. We've seen countless bands and artists claw their way to the top through grit, determination, and a trademark style, only to reach the summit and begin languishing in a sea of repetition. Doomed to repeat triumphs of the past as they slowly become missteps and mistakes.

French rock-fuzz dieux Phoenix certainly fit the 'doing what they do best' remit. Remarkably, though, across the six albums that preceded Alpha Zulu, they rarely came close to anything like boring. Those powerful, often complex hooks, the rousing vocal approach always seemed to hit. And here were are again, with a record that almost feels as original, timeless and essential as the debut, 2000's United.