Primal Scream

If Primal Scream are anything, they’re unpredictable. Over their 24 years, they’ve flirted with so many genres you could call them slutty. But somehow, even when they take a misstep, like with 2006’s Riot City Blues, they maintained their credibility as one of the greatest bands alive. Described as their attempt to write a full-on pop record, Beautiful Future is their finest album since 2000’s obliterating XTRMNTR. To single out this record as "pop” is a misnomer — Primal Scream have always released pop records. However, Bobby Gillespie and his crew never did it as straight as this. The title track opens in an idyllic frame of mind, using church bells and plucky piano riffs to emphasise Bobby’s optimism. And then it’s a case of their Jekyll and Hyde sides battling for superiority. Single "Can’t Go Back” builds hypersexual adrenaline, while a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s "Over & Over” with folk legend Linda Thompson slams on the brakes to show they do sensitive just as convincingly. But the Scream have always been envelope pushers and "I Love To Hurt (You Love To Be Hurt)” with Lovefoxxx from CSS evolves their electro-punk card, while "Glory of Love” marries Elvis Presley’s lip-curling delivery and Asian motifs to a dirty bass line. Beautiful Future solidifies their legacy and shows the Scream aren’t slowing down as they approach their 50s.