Album Review: The Zutons, The Big Decider

Who killed The Zutons’ career? The record buying public? The media which lumped them in with the landfill indie generation and dismissed the Merseyside six-piece as all saxophone and no heart?

Whoever the culprits, the group now returns after a 16-year hiatus, slimmed to a trio, but still featuring the core musical duo of songwriter Dave McCabe and saxophonist Abi Harding. The Big Decider was produced by Nile Rodgers – the Chic frontman – working with their regular studio collaborator, Ian Broudie.  There’s some real pain threaded through. One of the topics with which the project wrestles is McCabe’s battle for wellness following a spell in rehab.

The Big Decider doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. The first track, ‘Creeping on The Dancefloor’, delves into cookie-cutter student-disco rock with a glammy flourish, while single ‘In Your Arms’ is a meat-and-veg indie ballad that could have beamed in straight from The Zutons’ early years. The album closes with ‘Best Of Me’, a strummy number that combines steel pedal guitar and country rock arrangements.

The Zutons will be forever synonymous with ‘Valerie’, as movingly covered by the late Amy Winehouse. Fans will be encouraged to see the group back in the saddle – though they may be disappointed that The Big Decider lacks the magical quality of their finest work.

5/10