New Model Army // Between Wine And Blood

Having not heard much New Model Army before (I know, I know) I was in the privileged position of having no preconceptions about their latest material. For a post-punk band over three decades old preconceptions can be hard to shake. ‘Between Wine And Blood’ comes only a year after their last release and comprises just six tracks of new material, but eleven live ones from their last tour, on a second disc. It may be small, but this perfectly formed mini-album has substance. Every one of it’s six tracks is perfectly crafted alt-rock, made to sound effortless by Joe Barresi’s production skills. Each has a balanced measure of melancholy and vitriol, but the kind that can only be conveyed by those with experience and maturity, a grown-up anger if you will. The second disc is a live set from the ‘Between Dog And Wolf’ tour, one of their most popular to date. While the live material has power the subtleties of the layers in the studio material are what make NMA stand out from groups with less of a pedigree. New Model Army are still a band with something to say, and they say it in such a beautiful and intelligent way.