Duran Duran: Astronaut

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

(Herald rating: * * )

Just as the Live Aid anniversary reminds that nothing's much changed on Planet Earth, Do They Know It's Christmas participants Duran Duran return with their original lineup, most of whom gradually abandoned singer Simon Le Bon and keyboardist Nick Rhodes since 1985.

They've been enjoying their time in the nostalgic spotlight on the live stage - including opening for Robbie Williams here a year ago. But they've gone and ruined it all by making a new album very much in the style of their old ones. It's not that it pales in comparison to the LPs of their heyday - like many a group of the leg-warmer era, they were a singles band.

While the dozen tracks reminds of their strengths (Nick Rhodes' lavish sythscapes and their occasional way with a hook) the old weaknesses are there too - such as their polite funk-rock stylings and Le Bon's amusingly awful lyrics.

Having not learned his lesson with their earlier cover of Public Enemy's 911 is a Joke, Le Bon attempts to rap again on Bedroom Toys, which comes out a sounding like it was "inspired" by Robbie's Rock DJ, while on One of Those Days they drag themselves into the 90s, sounding strangely like early Blur. The penultimate track is called Point of No Return. Here's hoping.

Label: Sony