So it turns out they were meant to be together after all. Seven years after an acrimonious and well-documented split, former Thieves singer David McAlmont and ex-Suede guitar maestro Bernard Butler are back with the belated follow-up to 1996's 'The Sound Of McAlmont & Butler'. Following the release of top ten hit 'Yes', a lack of communication, self-declared immaturity and a vicious whispering campaign left this distinctly odd couple vowing they would never speak to each other again.
Time though, (and a lack of solo success, on both their parts) heals. A couple of misfits, Butler was always going to struggle in a post-britpop nu-metal world, particularly given his mediocre voice, while McAlmont's mature soulful pop was anathema to a scene awash with Garage and R'n'B.
Logically then 'Bring It Back' is unlikely to be leaving shops at a prodigious rate, but, -and despite its inconsistencies - it confirms Butler's awesome axe-wielding talent and McAlmont's splendid Curtis Mayfield falsetto vocal range. Opening track 'Theme From McAlmont & Butler' is a fine take on blaxploitation anthem 'Theme from Shaft' with added whining indie guitar licks. 'Falling' is a re-run of the bombastic 'Yes' minus the angst. This is surpassed though by 'Different Strokes', a wistful 70's soul anthem with a welcome twist of harmonica.
The title track however indicates that Butler & McAlmont are straddling the fine line between sweet soulful pop and saccharine Dodgy meets S Club summery schmaltz. In fact the bottom end of the album lacks any serious focus, resulting in the overblown rabble rousing 'Beat' and the almost as turgid 'Make It Right'.
When 'Bring It Back' shines though it proves that despite their unique agendas, together, they are worth more than the sum of their parts.
