Music

As sorry as one feels for Shaun Ryder having to surrender his entire income to the receivers, it’s hard not to be sceptical about a new Happy  Mondays album. After all, the last one, 1992’s ‘Yes Please!’, is universally accepted as being shamefully poor, while the last Time Out staffer to witness one of the current line up’s live shows – at which Ryder failed to read lyrics off an autocue –  saw little to enthuse about. On the plus side, they’re sober(ish) now, and their team-up with US hip hop producer Sunny Levine (grandson of Quincy Jones), on paper at least, feels exciting.

The reality, only a tiny bit disappointingly, is that the fifth Mondays album is good rather than great. However, what is great is how little they relying on nostalgia; the smooth-hop likes of ‘Deviants’ and the minimal ‘Anti Warhole On The Dancefloor’ are a world away from their signature ‘baggy’ sound. The lyrics, too, are as uniquely brilliant as ever (see in particular global warming ditty, ‘Weather’) and in ‘Jelly Bean’ they’ve created one genuine new Mondays classic. The overall feel is of a record that, while no ‘Bummed’ or ‘Pills ’N’ Thrills…’, is much, much more than just an excuse to keep touring the hits.