Three years after their Quiet Is The New Loud proved to be only briefly accurate, the impending release of the Kings Of Convenience's second album proper, Riot On An Empty Street, is coming as a bit of a surprise. But although they now seem more out of context than ever, there was always something incongruous about the Norwegian Simon And Garfunkel. They weren't old fashioned - this was the "new" loud - but they had no influences past 1973. They released one album of skeletal acoustic folk, and one album that remixed those songs into Europe house.

The curious timelessness continues on Misread. It is, for a start, being released only on 7" and via download - a veil drawn firmly over the CD age. The song itself is appropriately ethereal: as before, some bossa nova chords; vocals hushed, but high in the mix; and good harmonies. As on the Versus remix project, however, the instrumentation has been fleshed out. The song's crepuscular mood is enhanced by octaved piano, and quietly shaded background strings.

Whatever the musical surroundings, it's good to have them back. They will probably disappear again, to return in another few years as freshly beautiful as ever.