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A Certain Trigger

by Maxïmo Park

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London's Warp label is better known as a pioneer of brainy, slightly austere electronica, having released major CDs by acts such as Autechre, Squarepusher, and Boards of Canada. But when it ventures into guitar-based sounds, the label's discoveries are no less impressive--a fact confirmed by the addition of Maxïmo Park to Warp's limited rock roster, which already boasted the splendid Broadcast. Maxïmo Park's music loosely fits alongside that of postpunk contemporaries such as the Futureheads and Bloc Party (unsurprisingly, the three bands have worked with producer Paul Epworth). But the quintet brings a different sensibility to its jagged guitars and snappy suits. First of all, it hails from Newcastle Upon Tyne, in the north of England, and one of the many delights on A Certain Trigger is singer Paul Smith's untamed accent, which adds uncommon warmth to the songs. Second, Maxïmo Park's music has an emotional resonance too often lacking from its peers, who can seem more preoccupied with finding the right tie than the right lyric. Smith's voice pulses with genuine-sounding urgency and passion, while the band bangs away with abandon. It all makes tracks like "Once a Glimpse," with its brusque accelerations, and the heady "Apply Some Pressure" resonate long after they're over. Elisabeth Vincentelli