Album Review: Lowrider - Black Stones

If you get past the dodgy rock-like sounds on Days Of Boredom, the frightful opening on Lowrider's latest offering, there are plenty of hidden gems to be found on Black Stones. Singer Joe Braithwaite's familiar critique of technology, particularly his venom aimed at social media monoliths Facebook and Twitter, almost takes the gloss off the nostalgic funk and soul vibe that's apparent. Plus, the instruments are real – beautiful strings, subtle yet powerful percussion and bounding horns sound fantastic, with not a processor in sight.

Black Stones, Lowrider's fourth album, is certainly more refined than previous works, and Braithwaite's vocals are as compelling as ever. Be A Star is as smooth as a baby's hide and Golden Sun is rightly being lauded as a potential track of the year. And I Wonder finishes with a racing brass percussion while the '80s-inspired In My Arms is another great example of how Braithwaite's lyrics and prowess, when used correctly, deliver. What Happened To You starts slowly but packs a punch in the middle and Black Stones, the finale on the 14-track album, gradually grinds to an eerie silence. However, it's like Lowrider aren't quite sure of their calling as Black Stones jumps from jazz, blues, rock, funk and hip hop, all with mixed results.

If they'd stop trying to be everything to everybody and leave that job to Maroon 5, this could have had the longevity to put them amongst the elite, with Black Stones being tagged as one of the best albums of 2013. Instead, it's a good album, rather than a great one.