Primal Scream: Come Ahead (digital outlets)

For most of their career Primal Scream have been The Band That Might Have Been. But their career has been too haphazard.

However this David Holmes-produced instalment comes promisingly with soul, funk and black spirituals, reference points imported from 1991 Screamadelica, but without the ebullience of that career-defining album.

Bobby Gillespie and longtime guitarist Andrew Innes -- essential PS these days -- frequently sound in service of co-writer Holmes' expansive production for strings, the gospel choir and a stacked cast fattening a few groove-riding songs.

The political message and thumping beat of the six and half minute Innocent Money would be unaffecting if not for the widescreen strings, backing vocalists and the rap of Renee Alleyne.

There's also the long but enervating Floyd-like Melancholy Man with keening guitar and saxophone

Better is the emotional, five minute-plus Heal Yourself although the anti-colonialism and Scottish nationalist sentiment speak-sing Settlers Blues is a right-on, nine minute grinding haul.

Holmes has rescued mediocre and problematic material through musical drama and dancefloor funk (Love Insurrection) around Gillespie's curious detachment despite his emotionally cathartic lyrics.

Another Primal Scream album where, when it hits its best, prompts you to wonder what they might have been.

But then there's all the rest, so . . .

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You can hear and but this album at bandcamp here