12 Stone Toddler's circus is back in town, and less than two years since quality début, Does It Scare You?, the gang present more of the same – that is to say the same menagerie of sounds that are like nothing else around. Part Cake, part lounge act, part carnival, part Tim Burton - the tracks all retain their identity whilst sounding different from track to track.

That's why the vaudevillian plinking of 'Batten Down The Hatches' can be followed by the theremin-led carnival of 'This Suit', and the Beach-Boys-meets-new-romantic (you heard me) bounce of single 'Under The Weather', without sounding like a mess. Their dark humour remains in the metaphor fun of 'Death In The Zoo', and while 'Broken Hearts & Battle Scars' repetitions of "do you want it" might remind you of a Franz Ferdinand single, it will leave you with none of the urge to punch the singer in the face.

But it's closer 'Seasick' that throws us the most; opening mildly before suddenly sweeping in slabs of distorted guitar. No, really. Everything plays out in its slightly jazzy, lounge style, only with intermittent, heavy-as-f**k chunks of riffery in the background. Odder still it's when the guitar isn't playing that the song gets menacing. It's a surprise from a band skilled at throwing curveballs, and it works, making it one of the album highlights.

Eccentric and quirky, but definitely an acquired taste; Scheming may not quite match up to their début, but gives the impression they will keep finding new ways to surprise us.

Rating: 4/5 by Phill May

Tracklisting

1. Batten Down The Hatches
2. This Suit
3. Under The Weather
4. Drowning A Witch
5. Kick Me A Little Bit
6. Broken Hearts & Battle Scars
7. Apple From The Tallest Tree
8. Death In The Zoo
9. Scheming
10. (It) Was Such A Beautiful Thing
11. Autumn Song
12. Seasick

Further links

12 Stone Toddler.com

Homepage of the Brighton band who give an almighty twang

12 Stone Toddler on Myspace

Listen to the Brighton band who want to get rude on us