ROCK'S longest-running soap opera takes a new turn with a mostly satisfying new album, even if the publicity gush about the "definitive" line-up is wide of the mark.

Some of us still think that was the one that included Peter Green in it all those centuries ago.

The massive Fleetwood Mac, the band everyone remembers for the soft-rock, dirty-linen album Rumours came about after Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham took over the British blues-rock band. This imported, glamorous pair turned Fleetwood Mac into a vehicle of some sordid splendour, thanks to a very public airing of entanglement, betrayal and the occasional bucketful of drugs.

Rumours remains one of those landmark, love-or-hate albums and while Say You Will is unlikely to have such lasting appeal, it has its moments. In essence, this is a Nicks and Buckingham outing, a double-headed solo album, with hoary backing from Mick Fleetwood and John McVie (but no Christine McVie, who stayed away, apart from contributing backing vocals).

Nicks and Buckingham alternate the songwriting honours, with Buckingham getting matters off to a spirited, if soft start with What's The World Coming To. Come is odd and uncomfortable, another hymn to sexual revenge, only without the passing advantage of a tune. But Lindsey can be forgiven for the lovely, frantic folk of Red Rover, one of the stand-out tracks.

Nicks, her striking, nasal voice still strong, still getting there, stumbles on the silly rock-chick anthem Silver Girl, but finds great emotional expression on Illume (9-11), a September 11 tribute song of subtle power (and a few naff lyrics). She also rises to the pop-studded moment for the title song, and whines through the dense and weird lyrics of Running Through The Garden.

Steal Your Love Away, another Buckingham tune, is a lovely, many-voiced lament on love that still suggests a sort of innocence. At 18 songs, this is an over-stuffed album - thank heavens Buckingham didn't get the two-CD album he had wanted. And any album that ends with two goodbye songs is pushing its luck.

Still, there are plenty of great moments, including the mournful prettiness of Bleed To Love Her. Chop away six or seven songs and there could be something special here.

Updated: 09:32 Thursday, May 01, 2003