The Zutons, You Can Do Anything

4 / 5 stars
It's not their most immediate set but slowly, writes Craig McLean, their class becomes apparent

They like to take their time, the Zutons. Circa 2002's debut single 'Devil's Deal', they seemed like another bunch of 'cosmic Scousers', a rollicking pub band with Sixties dust in their amps, pitched somewhere between the La's and the Coral. Then, on first album Who Killed... the Zutons? (2004), their voodoo-blues wit and imagination came to the fore. There weren't many bands who could reimagine Merseybeat as swampy-bayou-beat.

Tired of Hanging Around (2006) was a slow-burner too. Only after repeated radio exposure did 'Valerie' reveal itself as the kind of song that shaggy indie bands from the north aren't meant to write: soulful, heartfelt, straight outta Motown. It was these qualities that Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse homed in on for their cover of the track. With both versions combined, 'Valerie' has now been in the Top 100 airplay charts for over two years. No other indie-guitar band possesses the Zutons' ether-of-pop-culture ubiquity. Beat that, Razorshambles.

True to form, this third record pootles around before, ultimately, achieving lift-off. First track 'Harder And Harder' is scorching enough, with a swagger that belies the departure last year of guitarist Boyan Chowdhury. But then 'Dirty Rat' is aimless, wannabe atmospheric balladeering, 'What's Your Problem?' is a oompah, knees-high comedy stomp, and 'You Could Make the Four Walls Cry' is a by-the-numbers pub-rock plod. But then, midway through the latter song, in comes saxophonist Abi Harding on vocals. She saves the day, adding much needed bounce and light.

From hereon in, the Zutons start throwing some of the limbs akimbo shapes that makes them a thrilling live band. 'Freak' is motoring West Coast Seventies rock; 'Give Me a Reason' is a sax'n'riffology jam; and 'Family of Leeches' (with Dave McCabe turning his often jaundiced worldview into a bittersweet analysis of domestic drama) is a heavy, dark, psychedelic swirl - one of the few instances where we hear what one imagines is the direct influence of producer George Drakoulias (Black Crowes, Primal Scream).

But there is one instant hit: the single 'Always Right Behind You' is a rumbustious party tune that sounds like a glam-rock classic as played by 10cc. Cheese, but quality cheese.

Download: 'Freak', 'Always Right Behind You'