Hailing from the southern city of Den Bosch, Mindpark have always profiled themselves as leftwing, alternative artists on a quest for pop sensibilities. Their music is riddled with plenty of rhytmic novelties, layered guitars and unexpected stylistic turns. Whenever they fear the music is at a standstill, they switch gears, taking on different influences and directions as they move along. In other words: the music is always happening, the process of growth is never completed. They pre-released 9 tracks that were to become an album in May 2010, leading many to believe that an album was to follow soon. It took them a full year, and only three songs from this pre-release survived to tell the tale. A noticeable change with earlier live appearances and released tracks is the more acoustic approach, with lighter percussion elements. The rock stomp is kept to a minimum. Vocals have gained weight in the balance, with some excellent vocal harmonies in Box Is Better, one of the more accessible gems on the album. Throughout the album, (main songwriter) and producer Ralph Timmermans maintains a remarkable clarity and transparency, the only exception being progrock-ballad Closer, one of the older songs that made the cut. It comes armed to the teeth with strings. It’s a moving song, but doesn’t sit comfortably with the other songs in this collection. Experiments, such as the frantic guitar-driven tracks Must Be Chemical and Microwaves add the necessary elements of surprise, without turni