The Breeders: Title K

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

(Herald rating: * * )

To say it's been a long time between drinks for the American alt-rock band led by former Pixies Kim Deal and her twin sister Kelly would be somewhat unfortunate.

The reason there hasn't been a Breeders album since 1993's breakthrough Last Splash has quite a lot to do with various battles with bottles and other chemical distractions.

These dozen tracks, produced in raw demo-quality fashion by Steve Albini, evoke a listless, damaged air that occasionally perks up care of Kim Deal's dry-humoured lyrics and those bittersweet sibling harmonies. But it's hard to escape the feeling that this is the sound of a particularly woozy hangover and that the songs aren't up to much. In the end, it's just too little, too late.

Label: 4AD/Shock