Another month and another great release from Jagjaguwar, the home to such joys as Black Mountain, Dinosaur Jr, Okkervil River and The Besnard Lakes, who follow up 2007's acclaimed The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse with this, their third album.

The Canadian band have expanded from their core husband and wife make-up of Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas and have collaborated with acts such as The Dears, Silver Mt Zion, and Stars, though with ...Are the Roaring Night they still sound very much like a band.

Initial thoughts made me think of Black Mountain minus the Krautrock-elements, as well as the mighty Howlin' Rain, and Citay's recent chestnut Dream Get Together. Two-part opener 'Like the Ocean…' shifts from something experimental to something rather anthemic, like a non blues-fixated Led Zeppelin. There's also a distinctly psych-vibe going on here, perhaps suggested by the gorgeous male/female harmonies?

'Chicago Train' has an epic opening that takes the album in an unexpected direction, making me think a little of Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea and a lot of The Antlers' recent Hospice - the high-pitched vocals and strings seem particularly similar. Though once the song comes in it sounds like a more expansive Red House Painters singing an early song by The Stone Roses...

Recent single 'Albatross' finds Goreas taking lead vocals, while the music offered up seems a blend of the largely forgotten Belly and something once known as shoegazing, though more commonly tagged "Dream Pop" these days. Some comparisons have been made by others to Isn't Anything, which I mildly concur with, though will also mention early Ride. Especially since next track 'Glass Printer' initially sounds like Mark Gardener and co, and strangely has me thinking of early Charlatans track 'Opportunity' minus the Hammond-sound!

Another two-part epic 'Land of the Living Skies' shifts back to a female lead vocal with the kind of soporific allure of Hope Sandoval - though as the song advances there are some lovely contrasting vocals from Lasek that makes the song sound like King Crimson covering Galaxie 500...

...Are the Roaring Night remains a strong album throughout, the quality upheld on the closing trio 'And This is What We Call Progress', 'Light Up the Night', and 'The Lonely Moan.' 'Light Up the Night' is an odd one, starting off a little like avant-classical music and some Spiritualized before sounding like a blend of The Shins and Crazy Horse. It's fair to say that The Besnard Lakes make me think of a lot of fine bands...

'The Lonely Moan' is a lovely way to end the album, sounding a bit underwater and early Eno as Goreas sings over the top - this might just be my favourite closing track on an album since that of Funeral by the Arcade Fire. A suitably hypnotic conclusion to another fine record from those folk at Jagjaguwar. As good as the predecessor (currently going for a silly price from that well known on-line seller) and another band that will have to be seen on their upcoming UK tour...