On their first two outings, Out of the Shadow and Descended Like Vultures, Rogue Wave could easily have been labelled an acoustic act, despite their occasional dabbling with a louder sound. This is not so much the case on Asleep At Heaven's Gate: this time round the band seem more keen to expand, fleshing out their sound even further with more instruments and a much greater sense of arrangement.

The essence of Rogue Wave's distinctive sound is still there, though. Layers upon layers of breathy vocals, the Simon & Garfunkel meets Crowded House harmonies, the occasional Beach Boys-style melodies thrown into the mixing bowl with their own brand of sombre warblings. It's a formula that has worked so well before - and despite these fundamentals being left unchanged, they still lay the perfect foundations for the band’s attempts at a bigger and more dynamic sound.

Indeed, some of the most pleasing moments of Asleep At Heaven’s Gate occur when the band push the boat out a little. Album opener Harmonium, propelled by a constant, up-tempo, pounding beat, floats effortlessly between quiet reflection and upbeat optimism, ending in a massive crescendo. Phonytown is another highlight: stop-start stabbings of distorted guitars underpinning the song’s dark and austere vocal melodies.

The record’s absolute highlight, though, is perhaps one that goes closest to back-to-basics. Chicago X 12 is one of those tracks that force you to stop in your tracks and take a slow, deep breath while its exquisite harmonies give you that warm feeling inside; it's that good, despite the rueful nature of the lyrics (a contrast that is apparent on much of this record, and, indeed, much of Rogue Wave’s past material).

In fact Asleep At Heaven's Gates' only minor downfall is that it never quite reaches the dizzying heights of its predecessors. Nothing stands out quite so much as tracks like California, Falcon Settles Me, Bird On A Wire, Be Kind & Remind (I could go on…) first did, and as such, it is not quite as immediate to new ears. Although this record is arguably more consistent its quality, it seems unlikely that it will have the same replay value as the first two albums - but while it lasts, it is a highly enjoyable listen.

There is plenty here for both stalwart fans of the band’s existing sound and those who were perhaps hoping for more. The final result is a much more accomplished and well-rounded sound than Rogue Wave previously offered; never straying too far from what made them so great in the first place, but doing enough to be different.

Fans who enjoyed Rogue Wave for the intimate nature of their quieter material may feel they are missing something at times, but to stay put would only have been covering old ground – Rogue Wave have moved on, and they have done it well. May there be many more as good as this.

Release date: 18/09/2007 (US release)
Artist website: www.roguewave.com
Label: Brushfire Records

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