HEY MA - THIS IS NOTTINGHAM REVIEW

AFTER last year's first tour in six years, comes the first album in seven and, while nothing particularly new, Hey Ma could easily be their best. The 11th collection from Manchester's indie septet, who emerged in the mid-80s as every student's second favourite band after The Smiths, is shamelessly poppy and uplifting. Which is what Tim Booth and co. do best. There are moments of lyrical intensity - "the boys in body bags coming home in pieces" (Hey, Ma) - but lines like "My mum says I look like Yul Bryner" from the single White Boy, better suit this epic, joyous, danceable music. After REM's return to form, it seems that bands who blossomed 20 years ago may be thin of hair but not of ideas.
Out now
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