**This is a 14-track collection of the first four Cinerama singles, from October 1999 to January 2001, the album sleeve tells me. **

First time, it's basically Pulp, only not half as good. Try again a few hours later, maybe mood will change. Same thing happens. Try hungover the next day, maybe will see it in different light. Same thing happens.

The sad thing is Cinerama share a sound not just with Pulp, but also the sort of bands that like to play artschools, turn up onstage in dinnersuits and 60's dresses, with fake eyelashes and a spanish DJ for afterwards. It's slow and langerous, sweet and brittle, cinematic and sleazy. And this is usually brilliant and I should love this album by default.

But I don't.

There's something just not quite right. Instead of kittyclawing itself into your brain, these songs just slide off, leaving you with the memory of the sound they're emulating, but not a single song or even just a line.

It's like biting into one of those cute pink coated cakes, to find only sugar and sponge and nothing else.

It's just not nice, given what it could have been...