Night Work Scissor Sisters (CD)

After a four-year hiatus, Scissor Sisters are back with Night Work, a mix of disco, electro-pop and alternative - an acquired taste. The album sees the band refining their sound and edging away from their earlier style.

The band attempts to recreate the breezy vibe of their massive, Elton John-cowritten hit I Don't Feel Like Dancin' in Whole New Way. But the song's reggae-meets-disco style does not really gel with the rest of the darker tracks. One thing it does sadly have in common with the rest of the album is lacklustre lyrics. They tend to be overly repetitive - almost to the point of sounding like ritualistic chanting.

The highlight is the instrumentation. Instead of just leaving it to the pounding beats apparent in so many modern songs today, the darker retro melodies give the music personality. The tracks sound more creative than most of the cookie-cutter chartjackers that dominate today.

While their first album signalled an innovation in glam funk, Scissor Sisters have not done anything groundbreaking this time around. Despite guest vocals from Kylie Minogue and Sir Ian McKellen, this offering is lukewarm, and will only appeal to established fans.