It's difficult to believe that Ocean Colour Scene have been around for almost 15 years ? from humble beginnings in 1988 they have grown in to one of the UK's most, respected and consistently successful 'proper' bands. Guitar, bass, drums, voice ? the key ingredients that make up their classic sound ? backed up by unfailingly high quality song writing. Now the band return with their fifth studio album, A Hyperactive Workout for the Flying Squad. Written and recorded by Simon Fowler, Oscar Harrison and Steve Cradock in a Hunting Lodge in a remote part of the Scottish highland's in 2004, the album showcases a real maturity and depth in the band's song writing, taking inspiration from the likes of Neil Young, The Beatles, Lou Reed, U2 and Scott Walker. Produced by Dave Eringa, A Hyperactive Workout for the Flying Squad featuring collaborations with Paul Weller, Jools Holland and soulstress Carleen Anderson. Review Patience has been a keyword for all fans of Ocean Colour Scene throughout their 15-year career - but those that have survived mediocre albums Mechanical Wonder (2001) and North Atlantic Drift (2003) - have been rewarded with A Hyperactive Workout For The Flying Squad. And while the Birmingham modsters' seventh studio album is not as instantly commercially accessible as their breakthrough second offering Moseley Shoals, it is certainly a return to form. One must again be patient, however,as this is one of those albums that is a definite 'grower'. Three covers -George Harrison's "Wah Wah", "Start Of The Day" by vastly under-rated Liverpool quartet from the early '90s The Real People and "My Time" by Bob Andy (reggae legend AKA Keith Anderson) - may suggest OCS are struggling for material. But opening track "Everything Comes At The Right Time" dispels those theories; it's classic OCS - a fast-paced anthem with big guitars and instantly memorable chorus. "Free My Name" (released 7 March) is the first single to be taken off the album. Aftera big intro, it leads into Simon Fowler's distinctive vocals while Steve Craddock's guitar swirls around Oscar Harrison's big beats. "I Love You" is slow and ponderous and best forgotten, but the mood is instantly lifted with the jaunty violin-driven "This Day Should Last Forever". But "Waving Not Drowning" is by far the best track on offer here, featuring long-time OCS champion, the Modfather himself, Paul Weller on guitar and Jools Holland's piano under-pinning the track. Is Fowler paying homage to the people who have continued to believe in the band? "Call it survival...you wrote the words...you drove away our fear...drank the half glass empty." However you interpret it, "Waving Not Drowning" proves that OCS can still write fantastically uplifting songs and proves to the fans that patience is indeed a virtue. --Dan Tallis This link will take you off Amazon in a new window