In keeping with a band named after a Havana meeting place for Cuban revolutionaries, Maximo Park appear to have totally overhauled their sound from the post-punk of debut album A Certain Trigger. If this, the second single from sophomore effort Our Earthly Pleasures  is a representative sample. Where Paul Smith and co sound, if anything, pre-folk.

“This paper trail leads right back to you,” accuses Smith, a lover scorned in this dark tale of betrayal, something the video from Daniel Wolfe, www.youtube.com/watch?v=X20UmfmTVnE, serves to highlight. The band seem to revel in less cheery subjects. Seeing as this CD includes another song in the band’s continuing series of obituaries – Guardian photographer Don McPhee following Maximo Park’s tributes to Robert Altman and Mary O’Brien (Dusty Springfield).

Even if this single is untypical of Our Earthly Pleasures, it still stands out. For all the right reasons. More beauty spot than wart then.

(4¾/5)