The eighth record from Shriekback — a group that features Gang of Four's Dave Allen and Barry Andrews of XTC — finds the group peppering their grim art-rock with hints of global groove. “Ronny” and “Sea Theory” simmer with tribal percussion, “The Strongest Wind That Blows” rides on a reggae rhythm and “Voiled Karletus” opens with squelching gypsy strings. But though they've expanded their sphere of influences, the group is still feeling gloomy as ever: each song is an exercise in minor-key songwriting, and Andrews'vocals sound as haunting and spiteful as ever. Though they may have refined their songwriting over their 15 year existence, their worldview, thankfully, is as dour as ever.