6/10

When Clean Bandit first made their mainstream breakthrough with the 2012 'A&E' EP, they were greeted with acclaim from every corner of the musical press. Their uncomprosing and unique ability to fuse classically trained musicianship with contemporary production styles gave them a sound which was not only intriguing but downright enjoyable. Now with two years in the limelight under their belt, they have finally introduced us to their debut full-length 'New Eyes'.

While much of the album is already recognisable, as five of the thirteen tracks have already been relesaed as singles, 'New Eyes' still maintains a fresh and diverse appeal as the coming together of their various influences and musical talents can be heard throughout. However the album, as a whole, does struggle to hold onto its interest by the second half. After such a strong start, the release does start to lose momentum very quickly and you soon find yourself thinking that the latter half of the record is more of a b-side selection than part of the finished product.

Clean Bandit still prove that they are one of the most interesting and unmatched names in the UK music scene but if you have already been religiously purchasing the singles prior to the new album, then you already own the best parts of their material.