For a band that has gained a reputation for its eccentrics, including their liberal use of falsetto and graphic tales of debauchery, England’s Wild Beasts struck a chord of genius by toning themselves down.

On “Smother,” the group’s third album, the band decided to take a more subdued approach to their craft, with downbeat arrangements that simmer rather than burn, and lyrical motifs that explore the darker sides of physical and emotional intimacy. Hayden Thorpe’s gorgeous falsetto and Tom Fleming’s brooding baritone drive the songs with heartbreaking intensity, and they elevate songs like Thorpe’s “Loop the Loop” and Flemming’s “Invisible” far and above the group’s contemporaries.

No other album released this year sounds like “Smother,” and its creators deserve both praise and respect for taking a new artistic direction while still maintaining the qualities that make them one of the most unique bands around.