There’s nothing quite so irritating about these post-punk revivalists as their name. Ordinarily I wouldn’t open with an attack on so superficial a characteristic but it just has to be said; what the fuck is ‘futuristic’ about The Futureheads?

A more honest foursome might’ve plumped for 'The Derivatives', or 'The Copycats'. Maybe even 'The Bog Standards' if we’re being particularly cruel. Studiously aping the ethos, instrumentation and lyrical output of bands from twenty /thirty years ago who were already noticeably too studious themselves? Now THAT’S entropy!

Nonetheless, say what you like about The Futureheads being stuck in a rut in terms of musical development, fact is that they are remarkably competent at what they do. Just writing that sentence makes me feel dirty, but it is true. Spiky riffs, staccato drumbeats, quirky vocals, breakneck pace... It all makes for a rip-roaringly energetic experience. There are no gentle intros, complex melodies or laidback tracks to give you a breather from what is, frankly, an exhausting listen. Stop The Noise and I Can Do That best represent the finer points of this frenetic style, both songs expressing uninhibited exuberance.

In spite of this exhilarating atmosphere, it’s still worth pointing out that the group does not dramatically deviate from their hackneyed form; almost everything here is still invariably drawn from the (superior) work of bands like XTC and Gang of Four. There are one or two exceptions. Heartbeat Song is quite sweet, having one of the stronger, catchier hooks and involving earnest, simple-but-effective lyrics. Definitely a solid (albeit misrepresentative) choice for the record’s first single. Em... Is there anything else... Nope. Sorry, it was just the one exception so.

There really are very few other salient points to make about The Chaos – although, again, I have issue with the nomenclature. There is fuck-all that is 'chaotic' about The Chaos – it’s an incredibly tight, cohesive, angular album. The record has pleasing moments, but if you know your history of music at all then these moments will merely have the unintentional effect of making you yearn for some Wire to listen to instead.

In the words of the immortal Columbo, one more thing. Prior to The Chaos’ release, The Futureheads allegedly described their new material as ‘complicated’. Complicated? Don’t make me choke on my own cynicism. This is music as formulaic and well-worn as you can get. If you like it, fine – but don’t you dare call this mediocre example of blandography ‘complicated’.

- Sebastian Clare