TRAD-rock stoics, Dadrock, remnants of Britpop - however you want to brand them - Ocean Colour Scene struggle on to their ninth studio record despite the criticisms.

Grounded in Sixties sound and Northern Soul obsession, OCS have faced the wrath and not changed a single note. North Atlantic Drift provides another 11 antidotes to the spiky-haired, soon-to-be broken voiced, jangle dominating the singles and album charts. With typical brashness, this is a record unashamedly mod and proud to be retro from the second the opening chords of the first track, the single I Just Need Myself, funnel through the speakers.

It's uncreative and hardly innovative, with Oh Collector, Golden Gate Bridge and Make The Deal continuing the Small Faces-type sound which has won the Birmingham-based foursome so many fans but also so many enemies.

But they don't care. They continue to make their kind of music and, whatever the trendies may barb, it's still pretty good.

Updated: 12:16 Thursday, July 24, 2003