Ten years after their last comeback, the 90s’ coolest girl band are at it again. While their 2006 album, Studio 1, suffered from a pronounced identity crisis, Red Flag recalls the potent mix of strength and vulnerability showcased on classic singles Never Ever and Pure Shores. So, pensive opener One Strike intricately dissects sudden emotional devastation, while the lovely Fear and Pieces are hymn-like odes to getting up and starting again. It’s not all delicate balladeering, however: One Woman Man is nothing-left-to-lose defiance set to clipped beats and icy strings; Summer Rain a skewed take on 12-bar blues. An odd attempt at dancehall on Ratchet Behaviour aside, Red Flag feels expertly judged.
