It's 12 years since Turn on the Bright Lights earmarked Interpol as über-cool ambassadors of 21st-century post-punk. The New Yorkers' fifth album (and first since bassist Carlos Dengler's fractious departure) is less about a band reborn than a semi-successful battle with an ongoing creative stasis. Singer/guitarist Paul Banks's bass playing is no substitute for Dengler's sound-defining contribution. Instead, the chiming, riff-on-repeat guitars from Banks and Daniel Kessler occasionally suffocate the rhythm parts, so where songs previously soared, they now plod: My Desire, Breaker 1 and Twice as High are frustratingly listless. There are bright sparks. All the Rage Back Home and Ancient Ways enthral using urgent repetition; Anywhere oozes tightly coiled, edgy detachment; and highlight Tidal Wave boasts a Bond theme song force. A mixed bag, then, but not without some auspicious charms. interpolnyc.com Download: Ancient Ways, Tidal Wave