“8”, Sensible Soccers splendid debut album, is clearly different from the band's previous works, even if that doesn't translate into a dilution of the band's identity. It was created through a somewhat different process, which of course represented a challenge, but one that the band was conscious of. The resulting body of work once again touches a wide range of musical approaches, which are sometimes more ambient-oriented, with thickly-layered synths, but also brings us thumping beats that range from AFG and Sob Evariste Dibo's shy wink to the dancefloor, to the fragile emotional downtempo of Lima. Once again the guitars masterfully work wrapping the arrangements, in an inventive-yet-coherent way that also reflects an evolution in the band's work on various levels. Sensible Soccers' debut also marks the collaboration between two of the most interesting independent labels in Portugal: PAD, creator of a deeply interesting repertoire of releases ...