The National

one of resident's favourite bands returns with a glut of guest stars including Sharon Van Etten, Brooklyn Youth Chorus and Lisa Hannigan, delivering one of their most texturally finessed albums to date.

their eighth studio album harnesses the band’s expert peddling of emotive stadium rock and handles it with an unparalleled lightness of touch. There are choral arrangements and strings on nearly every track, largely put together by Bryce Dessner — not a negation of the band’s dramatic tendencies, but a redistribution of them. “Berninger once again proves himself rock’s most astute and humane chronicler of everyday chrises of faith.” 8/10 – uncut.