after a flurry of hype in the early noughties, miocene have finally put their music where their mouth is, and produced a hugely inventive debut album.

this mind-melting tour de force references everything from ambient electronica to ferocious metal, country, classical, techno, prog-rock, rap and even super-speed drum n bass.

it ought to sound cluttered.  but in fact bulldozing riffs, political lyrics, sweeping strings, pianos and heavy blips, bleeps and beats gel seamlessly thanks to miocene's knack for knocking out dark mesmerising melodies.

"a perfect life..." is an intelligent and impressive offering which establishes the london four-piece hailed as one of this country's most innovative rock acts.