Magic Hour

While no end of guitar bands would kill to occupy the same lofty perch as this shower in the pop-rock firmament, you get the impression that Cast's reputation as solid, dependable, on-stage-at-7pm festival fodder is a source of constant frustration for frontman John Power.

Although they boast a fiercely loyal following, Cast are resolutely untrendy and, as a result, have singularly failed to capture the public imagination with quite the same intensity as The Verve, Oasis, or indeed, the ghastly Ocean Colour Scene - despite drawing liberally from the same well of influences and, more often than not, distilling what they find within to far greater effect.

Power obviously has an uncanny ear for a melody - 'Fine Time', 'Alright', 'Sandstorm', 'Guiding Star', 'Flying' and The LA's 'There She Goes' are among the finest singles to have been released this decade, so it is quite conceivable that the mixed reviews which greeted their last album, the sublime Mother Nature Calls, can be attributed to inbred scousism on the part of the London media, coupled with an ill-advised penchant on Power's part for spouting mystic boogaloo during encounters with said gentlemen of the press.

Magic Hour is Cast's third album in four years and smacks of being an opportunity lost, rather than progress made: it's worthy, but ultimately dull and disappointing.

The swaggering open salvo, 'Beat Mama', exemplifies anthemic power pop at its best, and is the infectiously catchy stand-out track which consolidates Power's position as one of Britain's finest songwriters.

Similarly upbeat cuts include 'Compared To You' and 'Dreamer', while the haunting 'She Falls' is a dreamy ballad that seems to be Power's answer to 'Sonnet' or 'Champagne Supernova'.

Of the dozen tracks showcased here, only one is an obvious dog. Unfortunately, it's the title track, an offering which, with it's kum-bay-ah characteristics, wouldn't sound out of place at the Rathmines folk mass.

And while slick musicianship, thoughtful lyrics and classic songwriting sensibilities permeate the rest of the album, on songs such as 'Alien', 'Take Me Higher' and 'Chasing The Day', you 're left with the impression that this is just Cast doing it by the book, colouring by numbers.

By no means a bad album, but no sign of the peerless tunesmithery we might have hoped for from a band who would seem to be lacking a sense of musical adventure.