With its gleaming melodies, wobbly, melodic basslines, shimmering guitars, carefree harmonies and poetically dark, somewhat gothic (the literary style, not the musical genre) lyrical content, The Bats' second full-length album The Law of Things could very well be Daddy's Highway Part II. Some of the rather obscure differences are the presence of harmonica, the less hazy, more defined guitar style and the predominant absence of drifting lullabies (the acceptation being the gorgeous "Cliff Edge"). The dreamy, hazy feel of The Bats' first album is not as instantly identifiable here, and it is this haunting quality that ultimately makes Daddy's Highway the better album, not to say that this record isn't fantastic and unique in itself. Spright, vivacious tunes such as "The Other Side of You" and "Bedlam" prove once again that The Bats are masters of infectious melodica that retains a stark darkness and sophistication. "Yawn Vibes" is breezy and folkish, with a beautifully repetitive guitar hook looming over the shimmering melody. "Ten to One" is one of the more offbeat songs on the album, with a wailing, heavilly-distorted guitar riff screeching in the background. The most moving cut is the final track, "Smoking Her Wings", a lamenting, romantic