mercury-prize nominees british sea power release their fourth album, 'valhalla dancehall', on rough trade, recorded in south east england and on the isle of skye in scotland. 'valhalla dancehall' follows their 2008 mercury prize-nominated 'do you like rock music?' and 2009's 'man of aran' soundtrack. the globe-spanning, retro title 'valhalla dancehall' invokes a wild-eyed internationalism, alluding to both the norse mythos and jamaican discos - to the viking heaven and caribbean good times. the mix of golden country and hebridean desolation reaches a meditative peak with the 11 minute 'once more now', where the trance vistas of popul vuh merges with a narcotic melancholy worthy of new zealand legends the chills. the album has massive currents of emotion surging throughout. once again british sea power have attained greatness on their own terms.