‘A Rook House for Bobby’ is both utterly beguiling and absolutely fantastic. “All I ever wanted to do/ Is play chess with you”, lead singer Dave mourns, as the saddest guitar in the world rings out magisterially in the background, an epic masterpiece of mausoleum level solemnity, like Nick Cave on the day they lay his budgie to rest, before building to the apocalyptic orchestral might of Godspeed You Black Emperor! conducting the London Philharmonic in a nuclear fallout shelter.

One of the best singles of the year, now we’re actually in a month where declarations like that carry a bit of weight. It’s meticulously constructed, genuinely affecting and made with staggering levels of intelligence. Plus, by praising it you can write iLiKE iLiKETRAiNS and annoy copy editors everywhere.

(5/5)

Release Date: 17 October 2005

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