The English music press can never let anyone be. They're always quick to hail the next big thing, and in this case, the next big is . ( briefly held that title upon its debut release in 2001, but U.K. critics rushed to give that crown to someone else.) haven't positioned themselves to be kings of anything, though, let alone the next . Sure, 's biggest hit to date, included only pianos, and they released the EP on , which is also 's label, but those are the only things have in common with . Alongside their beautiful, emotive dalliance of instrumentation is one thing that'll separate from all the rest, and that's drive. The band's open-hearted ambition on is audible on every song. Lead vocalist 's rich vocals are as vibrant as any choir, and track such as and reflect 's more savory, dramatic moments. Confidence bursts throughout, and for a band that has been around seven years and has never released a studio full-length album until now, achieving nearly epic-like status is quite impressive. obviously have the songs and they have a strong voice leading the front; however, (piano/keyboards/bass) and (drums) allow to come alive with glamour and without the sheen of slick studio production. Even slow build-up tracks like are just as passionate, if not more so, than some of the bigger numbers on the album. Some might find 's debut a bit stagy, or too theatrical at first, but that's okay. Listening to alone a few times is more than enough to convince you that stand next to -- challenging them rather than emulating -- and it's a respectable match at that. ~ MacKenzie Wilson