Album: The Dodos - 'Time To Die'

Following the release of the San Francisians' second album Visiter last year, The Dodos have been hot property. A record full of whimiscal, elegant folk pop, it hailed the arrival of the new Shins - in other words, a band perfectly positioned to soundtrack a thousand American teen indie flicks.

Now a trio with a new vibraphone player added to the ranks, The Dodos may be releasing their third record, but Time To Die is riddled with the sickly symptoms of 'difficult second album' syndrome. Many of the tracks were in fact written at the same time as those on Visiter, and frontman Meric Long asserts they all come from a similar mindset - but while previous tracks like Jodi were sweeping and catchy, Time To Die feels like a B-sides compilation in comparison.

That's not to say its sail is at half mast - Long's training in African drumming imbues the whole record with a pace and low key drama thanks to the African-inspired sound that made Vampire Weekend their fortune.

The lyrics aren't always crystal clear, although there are moments of clarity, as on Two Medicines: "You have a heart ache / But it never really hurts." This Is A Business has an angry, countryish pace, and its a welcome dose of energy at the album's peak. 

Produced by Phil Ek, who's worked with The Shins and Fleet Foxes, Time To Die's production is confident and understated, and the Beach Boys-esque Americana harmonies interlace with skittish drumbeats to perfect folk effect. The problem is that while it's beautiful, it's not warm.

A maudlin title, artwork that looks like dead leaves and a title track containing the line "You're off, then on again" says much about Time To Die. The release date, however is spot on - you'll be hard pushed to find a record more to this time of year when hibernation seems like a viable plan.

Our advice? If you're not familiar with The Dodos, start off with Visiter - then check out Time To Die. For existing fans, a couple of brandies and maybe a small fight with your significant other might be required before this record worms its way into your heart.

Check out the band at www.myspace.com/thedodos

Download Time To Die from 7digital for £5 or buy it on CD from Amazon for around £4.50.