MY head can't quite get round the concept.

UB40, the band that seemed to give up on doing anything but covers years ago, invited an illustrious line-up of reggae singers to, yes, sing covers of their songs.

It could have been inspired, but it ended up insipid. For while some of the singers, such as Gregory Isaacs, Jackie Robinson or Ken Boothe, take charge of the music, too often things are constrained by the original UB40 backing, which was always too leaden and predictable to make the soul zing.

Higher Ground, the best-known song here, is a prime example. Leroy Sibbles could just be any other singer, the song sounds just the same. Bright idea, shame about the execution.

Updated: 09:07 Thursday, September 19, 2002