According to a spokesman for the Belfast guitar merchants, “This is seen as a positive thing from our side as the company did not have the vision nor the people to enable us to do what we wanted. They still hold the album – as yet unmixed or mastered – and we are trying to get it from them.”

While there’s been no official split, “the band are not active as a unit at the moment. Different members are trying different musical ideas to get inspiration for whatever comes next. Rest assured, this hiccup will not see the end of the belief and desire which exists within Co_Dot.”

Meanwhile, Ash were in the unusual position this week of being top 30 in the UK, and deal-less in the States where Dreamworks informed them they’ve been dropped. The band are already being courted by a number of labels, with the Beastie Boy’s Grand Royal imprint the favourite to the land their signature.

On a more upbeat note, former Hormones man Marc Caroll has landed a deal with Universal Ireland and ex-4Guyz/In Utopia duo Eden have allied themselves to Warner Germany.