Rock - Ireland's hugely popular native sons Bell X1 return with what is being described as the sophisticated rockers' "most ambitious" album to date. Says frontman Paul Noonan: "We started recording last November in a big, drafty, stately home called Ballycumber House, under the beady gaze of musty portraits of the Lords and Ladies of the estate from the 15th century. We wanted to make something different, something tight and coherent from start to finish. Where we've landed is a little bit electronic, a little bit Bacharach, a little bit New Orleans Funeral March."

Two years after its U.K. release, the band's U.S. debut Flock finally arrived stateside in 2008 and received glowing reviews. A four star rave from Paste called Bell X1 "one of Ireland's great bands" and forecast that Flock would prove the band to be an "incredibly valuable export."

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From the label:

"The central creative trio of Paul Noonan, Dave Geraghty and Dominic Phillips retained the melody-focused approach of their first album but expanded their sound through the addition of glitchy electronic nuances ('The Ribs of a Broken Umbrella') crunching, prominent guitars ('Breastfed') and glittery art pop ('The Great Defector'). Noonan's gorgeous ballad 'Light Catches Your Face' anchors the work, exemplifying the emotional gamut fans have come to expect from the versatile rockers. "