CD - Suede: Bloodsports

Suede fans endured radio silence from Brett and the boys for 10 years before the release of this sixth album, Bloodsports.

The group had previously recorded and performed new material in 2011, most of which was scrapped when they reunited with producer, Ed Buller, who was responsible for Suede’s first three albums.

So far so good, and to top it all, Brett himself describes Bloodsports as a cross between 1994’s Dog Man Star and 1996’s Coming Up, and he’s pretty much telling the truth, mostly.

They’ve come up with a clean arrangement of grown-up indie rock pieces all working thematically together and flecked with moments of the furious hooks and crescendos Suede were known and loved for.

The only thing missing is the blasé nonchalance unique to Britpop superstars (and maintained to this day by one half of the Gallagher brothers) but this is replaced by a Suede that cares.