Indie giants Band of Horses are set to return with their third release Infinite Arms. Remaining member Ben Bridwell is joined by Ryan Monroe, Tyler Ramsey, and Bill Reynolds. The group’s previous releases were somewhat formulaic in their attempt to dominate the indie-rock world, but with Infinite Arms the group have finally hit upon something truly special. Bridwell seems to recognise that recent changes have been for the best as he believes that “In many ways, this is the first Band of Horses record.”

The album as a whole is incredibly polished and yet the quirky charm the group are known for remains. Instead of the default ‘thank you, have some lyrics’ booklets that we generally find, we have a little stack of photographs with a lyric and an odd little drawing on the back. In every way, the group have imbued the album with their off-kilter personalities. The record is almost like an audio version of a Judd Apatow movie. The effort put into the record over 16 months has certainly paid off.

The album opens with Factory, which sets the laid-back precedence of the songs to follow. At first, the track seems a little bland but the honey-soaked voice of Bridwell combined with soaring melodies and dorky lyrics such as “I thought about you in a candy bar” soon become irresistible. The group have become experts in the laying out of a great record as first single Compliments follows. The track is up-tempo and the ideal song to stick on in the car on your way to work, it won’t fail to cheer you up.

Stand-out tracks include the spirited Laredo, which remains one of my favourite tracks of the summer, and Infinite Arms, which is a majestic and earthily epic track perfect for long hikes when you feel like you may pass out. For me though, Blue Beard is the most beautiful track on the record, with its Eagles-esque guitar-driven harmonies, its haunting hymn-like chanting, and it’s quirkily beautiful lyrics which are reminiscent of Jimmy Eat World. It is one which requires a couple of listens to fully appreciate, at least that has been my excuse for pressing repeat.

We all know that Band of Horses can throw out an epic stomper like Straylight Run, but with this record their more mellow tracks are a discovery. The tracks on this album are more tender and personal. It is stripped back simplicity at its most beautiful. Filled with naivety and boundless hope, songs like Older show a depth of Southern romance that we haven’t seen from them before. Quirkiness is stripped back in this track and we’re left feeling the mist of warm rain on the porch swing of a Southern mansion. The track is a grower, but after the second listen it will have weaved its spell. Here they show themselves as being much more than a group of beardies who can make pretty acoustic tracks.

The record is let down slightly by its closing track Neighbour, the track is good, but it’s nothing special and feels a bit too much like regression to the old Band of Horses than necessary. If the album had closed on a sing-along stormer like NW Apt, the record would have been as close to the perfect indie record as any group have gotten in a while. It’s wonderful to witness a group grow into artists, but spectacular to see a group finally settle into their own skins as a rock band. Band of Horses are a damn good one. Infinite Arms is a must for any music-lover’s collection.

Ciara O’Brien