- I have no idea where intense Melbourne 5 piece Laura have been hiding these last couple of years, out of sight, but never out of our collective mind. These purveyors of moody, instrumental rock have been near-literal ghosts recently: playing the odd show here and there, but denying us any substantial new material since 2006's very enjoyable Radio Swan Is Down. Like previous efforts, new release Twelve Hundred Times sees the group brings a brooding style of post-rock, falling somewhere between the explosive early works of Mogwai & the ever sinister, string driven efforts of the Dirty 3, with just a touch of Godspeed in the mix: Laura really embrace the criminally unloved cello and violin amongst waves of thundering percussion and the occasional droning guitar. The meat of Twelve Hundred Times is in 7 epic tracks, with most seamlessly linked by a short musical interlude, giving the record an appreciable cohesion - a more satisfying package when enjoyed all at once. With the culmination of the past 5 years yielding 44 dynamic minutes of listening pleasure, you'd really hope it's not another 5 years until we get another helping from a group that don't seem to be in a real hurry to get anywhere. I mena, I appreciate that in a world where many seem to be trying just a bit too hard to be successful - Laura exude a kind of wisdom in their music, a mature restraint that shines through. Early single Mark The Day is Laura at their powerful best.

- Jay Edwards.