Ocean Colour Scene - On the Ley Line

This latest offering from the indefatigable five-piece still jump their influences as quickly as they did in the mid 1990s. From shiny, Beatles-pop-y opener I Told You So to pseudo-political Mr Brown (apparently, one no longer has to be PM to be given a melodic punishment for the country's ills), this comeback of sorts is full of busker-friendly acoustic guitar melodies and carefully orchestrated vocal harmonies. It is clear this band intend to churn out records until they run out of notes and while existing fans will no doubt seize upon this release as further evidence of Ocean Colour Scene's indomitable musical will, it seems unlikely to garner a much wider audience. The new songs are indeed listenable, but perhaps some members of the public may be happy to stop with the band's multitude of earlier offerings. [Lucy Weir]