In The Grace Of Your Love

Things have certainly changed since party starters The Rapture were the kings of New York's dance punk scene. Giuliani is out of office, LCD Soundsystem have ridden off into the sunset, and many aren't even sure if ‘dance punk' is a proper genre anymore. Back with James Murphy on DFA after an awkward major label venture, Luke Jenner and company fortunately don't chase any drastic reinventions. The record is not as pop-oriented as 2006's Pieces of the People We Love, nor as chaotic as 2003's Echoes; instead In The Grace Of Your Love is The Rapture's most intricately inventive record to date, with an overflow of time-shifting drums, layered vocals, and meticulous hooks, for both better and worse. The good news is, there are still songs on here that are absolute bangers, regardless of how long ago "House of Jealous Lovers" was released. "Never Die Again" and "Come Back To Me" flaunt some dizzying dance-punk theatrics and the single "How Deep Is Your Love" is a particularly tantalizing rave-up. But with literally every song swinging for the fences, the record is not without its moments of overload and excess. Still, The Rapture have managed to regroup after inner turmoil, a lost member (co-frontman/bassist Matty Safer), and a five year layoff to produce a record that's no doubt theirs.