Rating: NN
Sombre Manchester quintet Elbow might have more instruments at their disposal than a small orchestra, but that doesn’t make Asleep In The Back any more compelling a listen. Pairing Talk Talk atmospherics with Coldplay loud/soft pop dynamics might sound like a grand idea for something to build on, but beyond the odd dabble in pompous prog, it’s all Elbow have got. As a result, despite some interesting arrangements, original songs end up coming off like half-baked cover versions of vaguely familiar tunes, and even the most interesting moments here sound starved for original ideas.
