"Mike & The Mechanics' New Album - is it mechanically sound?" - A review by Jeremy Brown.

Phil Collins has his solo career; Tony Banks has his "Statement" and Mike Rutherford has… Mechanics. What does this fourth engineering project of theirs have to offer? Firstly it has about an hours' worth of songs; there's no room for the instrumental here. Secondly and this is a very subjective view; it has a number of memorable moments from the imaginatively titled Another Cup Of Coffee (a tale of love gone sour) to the introspective look at personality: A House Of Many Rooms, to name but two.

In all there are thirteen songs on the CD and they are all worth a listen. The booklet which accompanies the CD is, with minor reservations, of the well-produced kind with a montage of coins on each page in keeping with the theme of the album. Although I found the lyrics to some songs hard to read because of poor colour selection, or is my eyesight dimming in old age? (You don’t want me to answer that one do you, Jeremy? AH). I suspect Alan might be going through the same dilemma in that respect! (I'm sure I don't know what you mean? - AH).

Does this CD offer anything new in the light of what has gone before? Well, I must be perfectly honest and say no; I'm no sure that it does; but when you have found the perfect recipe for apple pie do you change it? I suspect not. My favourite Mechanics album is still The Living Years and that is partly due to the harder edge to some of the songs but for what it is worth, CDs are in some respects like people… you like all your friends but not necessarily for all the same reasons, and a CD in my view is no different. Many of you might be thinking I have judged this release a little harshly; given my knowledge of music production ranks as between zilch and one but on this score my ears will win every time. The format may not have changed much but the songs presented here are twenty four carat GOLD!