Simple Minds: Cry

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

(Herald rating: * )

It's the 20th anniversary of Simple Minds classic New Gold Dream album which may explain why the cover of this one is, y'know, gold.

Though why singer Jim Kerr and guitarist Charlie Burchhill and their studio backers still bother isn-t as easily explained - surely they've recorded most of these 12 tracks before, only with different titles and lyrics that weren't quite as hollow, synth-funk rhythms that weren't quite as tepid and choruses that whole stadiums used to bellow back at them. Though apparently some parts of the EU still like them.

Yes, the title track is palatable. Even if there-s a temptation to hum Don't You Forget About Me in its chorus. But that they felt the need to reprise it as an acoustic ballad, Cry Again, nine tracks later confirms suspicions about low levels of inspiration or perspiration. So does the last track, Floating World, a bleep-happy instrumental written by Vince Clarke of Depeche Mode and Yazoo fame.

But like much of their output from their second decade, this is the sound of Simple Minds going stupid.

Label: Warner