Mute Math’s Odd Soul was released towards the end of last year, and it’s a bit of a reinvention for the band, particularly on its first half. For the most part, gone are the electro-rock trappings, and in their place is a retro blues-rock sound very much in the style of The Black Keys’ last album, Brothers, or a slightly funkier White Stripes.

In fact, the title track could easily be The Black Keys, which is a little strange given how original Mute Math can sound when they want to. It’s a good enough song, though, that it overcomes the comparison.

Occasionally, the old Mute Math resurfaces, like on ‘All Or Nothing,’ which clearly owes a debt to Radiohead. But mostly, they maintain the soul vibe. ‘Allies’ sounds a lot like Jamiroquai by way of Maroon 5, while ‘Prytania’ could be a British Invasion band from the ’60s.

The intriguing thing is that while this is probably Mute Math’s least creative or original album, it’s easily their strongest set of songs. It’s a worthy trade, because the result is one of the more memorable records this group has made.

Four stars out of five