Klaxons: Surfing the Void

Trendy novelty or award-winning visionaries? That's the question that's been circling Klaxons's much-delayed follow-up to their debut, Myths of the Near Future , which bagged the Mercury prize in 2007. Turns out they're neither, simply a functional rock band with interesting haircuts. Electronics, dance covers and most things connected to the "new rave" tag with which they arrived have been ditched. In their place comes a richer, guitar-heavy sound, a makeover that, while efficient, stifles the sense of mischief, as well as the pop sensibility, that made them fun in the first place.