THE homegrown band from Brum have come up with another album featuring their distinctive reggae sound that was so groundbreaking and made them so popular more than two decades ago.

Their last album two years ago, Cover Up, was not well received but this will no doubt do better as it has a darker, moodier feel with sharp dub cuts and poignant lyrics. It's definitely their best album since Promises and Lies.

The top tracks on this latest release are So Destructive, Drop On By, Young Guns and, especially, Nothing Without You.

Ali Campbell's vocals are still to be admired after all these years and the trademark brass section always lets you know where you are. Loyal fans will be thrilled with another UB40 classic.

But the world has changed dramatically since millions relied on their Claim Form 40 for Unemployment Benefit to survive Thatcher's revolution.

Unfortunately, UB40 has not changed as much and their sound now seems mummified in the dark days of the 1980s.

There's nothing here that's innovative enough to attract a new audience.

It could be argued the bonus track, Swing Low - the official song of the England Rugby World Cup team - brings the album to an uplifting climax.

On the other hand, it's more like an ill-judged bolt-on that does not sit well with the other songs.

The CD delivers exactly what it says on the cover but a lot more than one in 10 could feel let down by the end.

PGW