GOMEZ badly need this record to sell.

Following an indifferent response to their too-clever-by-half last album, In Our Gun, and with many bands of their era being unceremoniously dumped in recent months, Split The Difference, could be the last-chance saloon for the Cheshire five-piece.

And therein lies its problem. The whole point of Gomez when they burst on to the scene with the brilliant, unscripted mess, the Mercury Prize-winning Bring It On, was their spontaneity and carefree vibe. This album has their trademark bluesy rock riffs and vocal harmonies in spades, but suffers from sounding like they are trying too hard.

Gomez have gone back to basics, replacing the knob-twiddling with a more direct, punchy live sound. And generally it works, particularly on the catchy, Sweet Virginia, Catch Me Up and riff-heavy Chicken Out. Their musicianship - illustrated wonderfully at their recent Fibbers performance - is better than ever, but they would kill for a hit. Sadly this is not it.

Updated: 09:37 Thursday, May 20, 2004