Muse
Origin Of Symmetry
(Sony)
Comparisons with Radiohead have thus far proved more of a hindrance than a help for Muse, the trio from the English seaside town of Teignmouth. But while Radiohead have all but dumped traditional instruments in favour of oh-so-clever musical meanderings, Muse keep drums, guitar and keyboards to the fore on their second album.
Matthew Bellamy's anguished, Thom Yorke-esque vocals will maintain comparisons - but even he is pushing the boundaries of melancholy on Micro Cuts, a whine so tortured it makes the Yorke and PJ Harvey duet This Mess We're In sound like Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams whooping it up.
'Hands are red with your blame/megaphone screaming my name/whimpers someone I should've loved/souls weeping above,' cries Bellamy. Cheerful stuff. The lyrics throughout are dark, paranoid and without hope.
Nevertheless the trio make a mighty noise, with Origin Of Symmetry including great tracks such as Space Dementia and Citizen Erased. It's a worthy follow-up to 1999's Showbiz and since Radiohead have wandered into the wilderness of late, the idea of stealing their clothes is not such a bad idea.
