<p>The Raveonettes still very much consist of Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo, both Danish-born and now residents in New York and Los Angeles respectively. 'In And Out Of Control' is their fourth album. It features eleven brand new songs, lasts for 37 minutes and eleven seconds and was recorded in Denmark in a proper studio with a top producer because - get this - The Raveonettes wanted to make a pop record. Whatever the madness in their methods the end result is startlingly clear: 'In And Out Of Control' is a wilfully perverse and heroically diverse collection of pop nuggets which delivers a slew of soon-to-be Raveonettes classics. And 'pop' is once again the key word here, as the lush production at times harks back to the early 80's when Trevor Horn sprinkled sugary sonic sweetness over everything he touched. It isn't alone either, as the giddy opener 'Bang!' and the frankly terrific 'Breaking Into Cars' take The Raveonettes' penchant for three minute thrillers up to a whole new level. True, it's unlikely that many of Mr Horn's pet pop projects would make lyrical reference to "Every time you overdose" or "I rush to intensive care". Nor indeed would they have song titles like 'Suicide', 'D.R.U.G.S' and 'Boys Who Rape (Should Be Destroyed)'. But this is where we find The Raveonettes in 2009, creating a strange mix of modern and old, dark and happy. Long term Ravers can rest assured therefore that the duo's creative heart remains as delightfully black as ever, as evinced by the solemn ambience of 'Oh I Buried You Today' and weary album closer 'Wine'. And if anyone was thinking that The Raveonettes have abandoned their scuzzed-up crown to the new generation of Pains Of Being At Heart, Glasvegas etc on the retro block then the coolly berserk 'Break Up Girls' will teach a few of those Marychaining young tykes a thing or two about a feedback blitzkrieg.</p>
