The latest in a string of EPs from our favourite trip-hop voodoo blues twosome, this one may just top the lot. I had some reservations about the almost industrial flavour of their previous Liar, liar, as it seemed to occasionally relegate Hatty Taylor’s marvellous vocals to support slot, but it’s hard to be critical about the beautiful balance of Ugly. Perhaps the only thing to moan about is that it’s high time they stopped drip-feeding us all these mini-bites and get on with the astounding debut album they must surely now be capable of.

The title track certainly doesn’t promise balm to the soul, with Nigel Firth’s menacing synthesizer surges coming on like a heavier Depeche Mode effort, while Taylor’s wounded remonstrances to a cruel lover sound painfully authentic. She mixes the vulnerable and the icily self-possessed in almost equal measure, but never over-doing it, never sounding melodramatic nor disengaged. The chorus in particular is thrillingly potent.

‘By Way of Apology’ is the band at their most delicate, forgoing the swedging beats in place of a spooky piece of minimalism, just an acoustic guitar pick and a few swoops and sighs from Firth’s box of tricks. The vocal melody is airy and exquisite, like a more grown up Lana del Rey. Finest of all is the trip-hop influenced ‘Stop’, with Firth’s muffled twanging lead guitar a standout, sounding as if Portishead had hired Hank Marvin for a number from Dummy. Another glorious melody from Hatty is matched by knowing, sinister poetry; I especially like the way she can subvert or amplify a cliché. For example, the pre-chorus first line runs “I don’t believe a single word you said to me.” So far, so brassed-off singer-songwriter boilerplate, but this is trumped by the deadly “but it won’t take long to prove you wrong”. Best call the removals van, mate. And maybe get some protection while you’re at it.

So more tedious excellence from Vienna Ditto, the best band in town at the moment, surely. Can someone now put us out of our misery and sign them to a decent label?