Belated sophomore opus from Wallace And Gromit of Manc disco-rock

   In the three years since their half million-selling debut album, Peter Hook and David Potts have suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune: parting company with their old label, Pottsy almost joined Oasis, Hooky unexpectedly faced fresh New Order duties. Now the duo are back welding resonant, heart-tugging basslines to throbbing sequencers and chiming guitars, but once again the words "side" and "project" spring to mind.

   The pair really stomp hard on the romantic pub singalong pedal this time, with Pottsy donning his Neil Diamond tuxedo for the crashing croon-pop serenade of "Ballroom" before a Burt Bacharach-style flurry of trumpets and heavenly choirs heralds the bruised sweet nothings of "End Of The World". And bugger me if "Bert's Theme" is not a breezy blast of soft-focus soul-lite that would do The Lighthouse Family proud.

   Elsewhere, Hooky once again allows himself a brace of cameos with the Revenge-style sado-disco of "See Saw" and the gravelly growl of "It's A Boy" - both pleasing reminders that the further Monaco stray from New Order terrain, the less the temptation becomes to judge them against such Olympian standards. Hook's rumbling tonsils may lack the technical perfection of his young partner, but at least he isn't being Bernard Sumner Lite. Which, by accident or design, is how Pottsy still sounds, from the shimmering rush of "I've Got A Feeling" to the manicured gloom of "Black Rain".

   Thus Monaco can only court such unflattering comparisons by endlessley dipping into New Order's gene pool without recreating their essential romance, mystery or emotional punch. Admittedly this is a crafted, sumptuous record, but Monaco are essentially still standing on the shoulders of giants.