Another one of those reviews that may as well be short as it is unlikely to get you rushing to the shops.

Author & Punisher is one man building his own drone / noise machines in an attempt to terrorise you ears.

Previous albums have sounded like factories collapsing topped with death metal like growls, so it was an acquired taste.

The latest album, Kruller does mix the formula up a bit. Firstly it introduces other musicians – Notably Danny Carey and Justin Chancellor from TOOL.

The music is also notably slower (and heavier) with more clean vocals. There is even a curveball cover is the form of Glory Box by Portishead.   

It’s all still a very marmite sound in that you either enjoy it or hate it - There's no middle ground really but it is a much more expansive and adventurous album than before.

I think more people would enjoy it if they gave it a chance

If anyone does read this blog you would be aware I wasn’t that keen on the last Nerina Pallot album, Stay Lucky was a bit too much wine bar jazz and ‘samey’ for me.

However I Don’t Know What I’m Doing is a thrilling return to form for the more adventurous and wilfully obtuse side of Ms Pallot.

Opening up the album with lush strings and a dance beat, Cold Places immediately suggests an album of wild variations.

The lead single of Alice at the Beach has a gorgeous summery groove and a nagging catchy chorus.

There are the more traditional Nerina style ballads, both piano (There’s a River) and guitar led (I Don’t Know What I’m Doing) but even then the use of the F word in both is bit of a surprise.

Master Builder could easily have come from the SoCal scene in the 70’s, even has a touch of Tiny Dancer about it. 

Packing 11 (and a bit) songs into 44 minutes nothing outstays it welcome and I can’t see you needing the skip button unless you find a particular bugbear

Maybe not quite matching my favourite album, The Sound and the Fury, but let’s give it time….

Seven albums in to her career and producing music this good is a fantastic achievement.