Hanging around

After the previous albums "Norfolk Coast" (2004) and "Suite XVI" (2006), which were quite good and mediated to the listener at least, that the band is back on the right track, it comes with the latest work a large step further back to the roots - and it leaves a past atrocities as "Written In Red" (1997) or "Coup De Grace" (1998) Lost.

Here we go with the krachigen instrumental opener "Another Camden Town" - and already at the first notes it becomes clear: The Stranglers have found their strength back. On songs with too much fabric softener component was dispensed on to fortune; it is again rocked tidy. Jean-Jacques Burnel lets the bass smack that it is a pleasure, Dave Greenfield has unpacked his Fairground organ again and Jet Black (now 73!) Are powerful gas on drums.
Baz Warne makes a "new" singer and guitarist an excellent job and fits with his dark, deep voice to 100% into the concept. Sometimes Warne and Burnel share the vocal parts.
Of course, you realize that something is different about voice and singing, but it is not disruptive; you can get used to, especially since the vocal ranges for Hugh Cornwell very similar and typical for the Stranglers song character is preserved to it. However, if you still mourns Hugh Cornwell, I can not help ...

Among my personal favorites in addition to the already mentioned opening song titles include "Time Was Once On My Side," "Giants", the amusing, partly sung in Spanish "Adios" and especially the hit-suspicious "Mercury Rising".

Conclusion: This is indeed the rock music not reinvented, but "Giants" is after a long break quite a good, solid and brisk (albeit short) album that has all the typical Stranglers ingredients, and has earned security four stars (when compared to the early masterpieces "Rattus norvegicus", "No More Heroes", "Black & White" and "La Folie" 5-star all albums are for me).

The handsomely designed, limited edition bonus in folding digipak includes an additional CD with 14 acoustic songs, recorded live at the Stranglers-Convention 2011 Camden, London.