Hayden Thorpe's Moondust For My Diamond is a very close second to its predecessor

As usual, Thorpe’s voice is awesome (meant in the original sense of the word) throughout the record. It rises and falls, pulses and roars, and races through hushed whispers into sultry croons - a testament to the man’s ability to emote throughout his entire range. The change, without which would be no growth, comes in the form of the sonic palette that frames that golden voice. Gone is the reliance on piano figures, and back are the synth tones and programmed drums from the Wild Beasts days. Happily, these are tones and textures that we have heard intertwined with Thorpe’s voice previously, and their return is nothing short of a nostalgic pleasure.

Opener “Material World”, opens with bubbling synths, before blossoming outwards into full bloom with rich and spacious percussion and heavily treated guitar skronk filling out the sonic field. “The Universe Is Always Right” leans into an airy, turn-of-the-millenium electropop groove that splits the difference between Savage Garden and Exciter era Depeche Mode. It’s a largely unexplored area of sound in recent times - especially surprising when you consider ten million people bought that self-titled Savage Garden record.

Elsewhere, the album really excels in the moments that Thorpe indulges his nocturnal impulses. “No Such Thing” and “Supersensual” are just two of the many examples of what Thorpe does well here, and has done well throughout his career. Both tracks, despite being vastly different in terms of tone and execution, are excellent blank canvases for Thorpe’s insistent, seductive vocalisations. Other highlights - and there are many - include the stately, ever-expanding “Hotel November Tango”, the filthy Teutonic funk of “Parallel Kingdom”, and the classic Wild Beast-isms of “Suspended Animaltion”.

Moondust For My Diamond is another essential album from a man who couldn't make a bad one if he tried. Realistically, it's not quite as powerful as its direct predecessor, but the fact is that very few albums are; Diviner may be the best thing Thorpe will ever do. That said, Moondust For My Diamond is exquisite, and will only grow in stature over time, as only the very best albums do.