THE Electric Soft Parade, ultra-talented Brighton brothers Tom and Alex White, made waves last year with the Mercury Music Prize-nominated debut Holes In The Wall.

Like contemporaries The Coral, they haven't hung around for the follow-up. Unlike The Coral, they are known for being a bit nippy - they've got previous for snapping at their audiences -and this record contains plenty of anger.

Whatever is driving it is deep and personal, with both songwriters needing to get things off their chests. Lights Out is driven by Tom's pounding drums with Alex almost sneering lines such as "the victories you've had won't make up for the values you lack".

The title track, their best tune to date, is bitter and beautiful. This is a skilled second album, but demands some work from the listener.

Updated: 08:49 Thursday, October 16, 2003