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Herald Rating: * * *
Label: Shock
Verdict: It has its moments but will set your life on cruise control
If you're not familiar with Grand National then the London duo's laidback grooves and pleasing melodies sit somewhere between Turin Breaks and the Chemical Brothers. It sounds like a good combination, but on their follow-up to 2004 debut Kicking the National Habit they never really get out of cruise control.
Along the way there's some interesting exceptions, like the minimal 80s electro pop of Animal Sounds, and Cut By the Brakes, with stunning strums of what sounds like lap steel guitar, is a relaxed British take on Daft Punk.
However, the niggling frustration is that A Drink & A Quick Decision constantly threatens to rock the block but only nails it midway through, and even then it's just on a trio of tracks. There's the uplifting thud of Tongue, the seductive Latino delights of naughty album highlight Going To Switch the Lights On, and the funk ends with New Space To Throw.
These days no one does the electronic meets live instrument mix better than New York's LCD Soundsystem, who pack their songs with musical muscle. On the other hand Grand National's meanderings are pleasant enough but a little low energy. There's nothing to dislike about them, it's just a bit harmless really.
