I liked both of the first 2 records by The Beths, but neither were especially close to a List placing. Expert in a Dying Field is therefore definitely their breakthrough album for me. The formula isn’t all that much different, but The Beths have raised the quality bar here, with a consistency that wasn’t present on their previous records. It’s also the case that their trademark sugary pop-rock has more edge on album #3, with some chunkier riffs and a guitar sound that sometimes veers from their usual fuzzy to scuzzy. My favourite track on the record, ‘A Passing Rain’, highlights this well, starting all saccharine before building to the sort of powerchord guitar riff that wouldn’t be amiss on Bush’s 90s classic Sixteen Stone. Elsewhere, ‘When You Know You Know’ is a sunnier sing-along, which reminds me of Taylor Swift at her most indie; while ‘Silence is Golden’ unfurls unexpectedly with something approaching a prog-metal structure (if not sound). There are plenty of open-heart surgery lyrics throughout, exploring loss from various angles. Ultimately, this is another step up from a band that already was making impressive strides.