Given all they've been through over the last couple of years - the worst reviews of their career so far for Head Music, the departure of Neil Codling, an entire album scrapped at huge expense - you could forgive Suede for not being particularly happy campers these days. Against all expectations, however, their fifth record is by far their most placid to date, and a far cry from the gothic navelgazing that produced such twisted masterpieces as Dog Man Star. The reason? Frontman Brett Anderson has finally kicked drugs completely - and suddenly realises what a beautiful place the world is, resulting in such disappointingly drippy ballads as the leadoff single 'Positivity'. Old fans may well be horrified by this turn of events, and certainly the new, slimmed-down Suede model lacks the edge that made the band so exciting when they first emerged a decade ago. It would be unfair, however, to overlook the many solid virtues of A New Morning, which include several infectious glam-tinged rockers and a couple of satisfying variations on an old Anderson theme: the unfulfilled lives of bohemian outsiders. Overall, it's a decent enough holding operation - but if they're to become truly relevant again, Suede badly need to rediscover their sense of passion.
