REM: "Up" (Warner Bros)

Hacks everywhere are probably sweating buckets over REM's latest offering, unsure whether it's a wonderful new adventure in hi-fi, or simply the self-indulgent noodlings of a band who can well afford to witter away their middle age. Here's my approach: I treasured Murmur, hated Fables, loved Life's Rich Pageant, tolerated Out Of Time, turned off Monster and accepted New Adventures. Working by this formula, the conclusion is easily reached: I don't like Up at all. Lotus and Walk Unafraid are the only uptempo tracks here - it's as though, since losing drummer Bill Berry, REM have decided to quit being a rock'n'roll band and become soundscape painters instead, using drum machines, vibes and old synths to set a sombre mood. Songs such as Suspicion, Diminished and Parakeet are beautifully-textured slices of uneasy listening, like The High Llamas on a diet of Kafka; At My Most Beautiful sees Stipe, Mills and Buck bow their heads in harmonic tribute to The Beach Boys. Low-key surfaces provide a shadowy backdrop for Stipe's stark, introspective lyrics; Sad Professor and The Apologist are contrite, confessional tales and the single, Daysleeper - the only vaguely catchy tune - is a lone, compassionate voice in the darkness. If New Adventures lost REM half their audience, then Up will easily halve that figure again; those who remain loyal, however, might begin to feel that they're suffering for REM's art. Kevin Courtney