The Big Pink return with a record that is like a mix of tuneful football anthems laid across 80s electronic pop and widescreen, swirling synth-lines. You need only travel less than a minute into opening track Stay Gold for the twosome to start shouting in a melodious manner. And when things get a little deeper, like on closer 77, it’s a bit like Joe Strummer performing on an X-Factor backing track.

The duo, Milo Cordell and Robbie Furze, hired Adele Producer Paul Epworth for this, their sophomore record, suggesting they are more than aware of their mainstream ambitions. And they certainly know how to construct over-sized chorus-lines that will pull in the hook hungry punters, much like their Dominos single last time round. Then there are tracks like Give it Up, which has some effective brass cuts and sliding synth bass-lines, but the melody is so reminiscent it becomes an annoying itch you can’t quite scratch.

Jump Music is like a dance punk textbook lesson – scratchy guitars and a driving undertow of buzzing keys and beats are all inclusive. And Lose Your Mind has a distinct Duran Duran gene floating within its tuneful perimeters – the polished rock guitar riff just the icing on the retro styled cake.

The Big Pink have made a record brimming with smooth professionalism and faultless synth-built pop. It’s just a shame they forgot to include personality, memorable melodies and any real reason why we might want to listen to it again.

-William Bell-