KEY POINTS:
Herald rating: * * * *
The Guillemots came second to the Arctic Monkeys at this year's Mercury Awards, largely for this diverse, musically mature and confident debut.
Closer to the art-pop of Pulp, Blue Nile and early Scott Walker than Britrock guitar bands, the Guillemots (pronounced gilly-mots) create a colourful musical canvas fronted by the vocals of songwriter Fyfe Dangerfield who declaims his angst over arrangements which call for cello, horn, Latin percussion and sometimes the kitchen sink.
Occasionally Dangerfield overdoes the Morrissey-like tortured self pity but, as on the upbeat Annie, Let's Not Wait, he pulls in strings, a pulsing beat and a girlie chorus so it takes off in the manner of the neo-psychedelic Sleepy Jackson. Over the full length, despite the emotional agonies and quavering solo passages (and the thrill of love found), this is far from moody and introverted stuff.
Through the Windowpane isn't quite as scattergun as that description sounds, and in its art school European consciousness it will constantly surprise and delight.
Verdict: High drama, swirling sonics, and self-confidence make great debut.
Label: Polydor
