ECHOES of Black Cherry-era Goldfrapp run through this fourth release from Bristol trip-hop trio Kosheen like the writing through a stick of rock. The style is given a more energetic, danceable bent by the group, who do more than enough to keep it sounding fresh and new by introducing a heavier breakbeat edge in tracks such as Dependency.

This is entirely in keeping with the outfit’s ethos – even the name Kosheen is a contraction of the Japanese words for old and new.

Independence boasts strong and assured rhythms and beats courtesy of producers Markee Substance and Darren Decoder, as well as powerful vocals from singer-songwriter Sian Evans. Stand-out tracks Get A New One and Bella Donna lift the album from good to great.

Rob Lavender