WHILE it may not be an angry electric-fuelled response to the Unplugged movement, Rewired is not short on innovation.

This is the first album by the Mechanics since the death of Paul Young in 2000, leaving Paul Carrack in sole lead vocal duties. The band suffers without the abrasive presence of Young to counterpart the sometimes-syrupy Carrack - but they have acquired new partners along the way.

Rewired comes with a DVD containing videos of each of the tracks by young visual artists and film-makers. Several tracks benefit immensely from the video treatment, especially Perfect Child and I Don't Want It All - the latter boosted by an old school but superbly crafted animation.

Musically, when Carrack's vocals are downplayed, producer Peter Van Hooke adds a touch of Floyd to the likes of the harder-edged Rewired and Underscore. It's these latter tracks that have the real potential - though whether they get the airplay instead of the more orthodox single One Left Standing is a different matter.

Updated: 08:45 Thursday, July 15, 2004