Axes, Electrelane's third release, splits the difference between the instrumental raves of their debut and the more accessible post-punk of last year's The Power Out. "Split" may not be the most exact word here; nearly 75% of Axes is given to Feelies-style rave-ups - though without the Feelies devotional concentration or, pardon me, axemanship. Or lyrics - a problem when your instrumentals begin and end with the same basic chords and mid-tempo - fast - faster structures (no matter how much dissonance you throw in for variety). That said, there is still a dirty thrill to be had from the fuzzy rush of rock and roll played live in the studio, with Steve Albini's hands-off recording muddying up the sound. The songs are raw, skeletal, as if the band learned them seconds before playing them, which they probably did, with no time to belabor the obvious similarities as they rush from one giddy crescendo to the next.