THE decision by the Cooper Temple's former bassist Didz Hammond to jump ship to Carl Barat's new band Dirty Pretty Things was an inspired one.

Perhaps he knew that the indie scene's former great white hopes and "band to be seen with" had run out of inspiration.

This, CTC's first album with their new label, is a joyless, passionless mess. Their distinctive rock/electronica crossover, as on All I See Is You, now sounds tame and tired against the likes of the genre's new champions, Kasabian.

Only the anthemic qualities of Waiting Game and the piano-driven closer House Of Cards are worthy of a repeat listen. Once famed for their extraordinary haircuts in 2002, this record could see their new label snipping up their contract.