Music

For a band who take their name from a PiL song and helped kickstart the early noughties reappraisal of Gang Of Four, ESG and A Certain Ratio, one might expect Brooklyn’s Radio 4 to sound rather more vital than they do. But, after 2002’s stomping, DFA-produced ‘Gotham!’ album, their star has diminished and this fourth album may well be their creative nadir.

Given that they are signed to a major label, it’s to their credit that the quintet have remained so political. However, for any band’s left-leaning lectures to rouse and inspire they need to be delivered in spectacular and urgent style. ‘Enemies Like This’, though, is more Charles Kennedy than Tony Benn. Choosing safe, well-thumbed influences (Gang Of Four, The Clash and, increasingly a blustery U2), Radio 4 mainline them without shame and blunt any spike in the process. Even the help of British producer Jagz Kooner (remixer of Primal Scream, Kasabian and Soulwax) couldn’t stop this from becoming a chugging let-down that’s only minimally more spirited than 2004’s dismal ‘Stealing Of A Nation’.

Apparently Radio 4 had wanted to capture the sound and energy of their live shows. If that’s the case, ‘Enemies Like This’ – stagnant, empty and half-finished – suggests that you’re best to stay well away from their gigs.