The Shining: The Shining

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

(Herald rating: * * * )

For any fans of Britrock casualties the Verve non-plussed by singer Richard Ashcroft's daft new solo album, the debut by this band which features that band's two Simons - bassist Jones and guitarist Tong - might come as a welcome relief. Unless you expected them to do something new.

There's quite a bit of Verve going on behind large-lunged singer Duncan Baxter, as well as Stone Roses (Show You the Way), Ocean Colour Scene (blues-rock opener Quicksilver sounds like a rewrite of their riffRiver Boat Song), and a few other standard-bearers. But that's also its problem.

The songwriting is solid enough and it can occasionally kick up some dust - especially on the towering Crest of an Ocean and the aforementioned Show You The Way which goes a bit Led Zep in the chorus.

But with a middle sagging under too many Verve-like slow-burners, the Shining doesn't give off much heat, though on songs like I am The One and Danger, Tong, Jones and co do a pretty good audition for the job of Robbie's next ghostwriters of bellicose ballads.

Label: Zuma