Even the normally grating vocals are tempered here, Molko sounding less like a drag queen in too-tight leather underpants and more like something approaching a spokesman for the underground. The vocals too are less mind-numbing than previous Placebo ejaculations (though the "I'm sick and tired of Maggie's farm" line doesn't win many marks for being topical). So, I just have to face it: Placebo - much maligned in these pages of yore - have succeeded in producing something that sounds fresh, dangerous and one of the more vital songs I have heard for a good while. Which is probably more a reflection on the stagnant nature of UK music at the moment, but what the hell - let Brian have his shiny moment in the limelight: far be it from me to pluck his pansy.

"Holocaust" is an Alex Chilton cover, and sees Placebo slow things down to mogadon pace, sounding like something more fitting a film soundtrack. A film about psycho-sex crazed midgets, admittedly, but still not a patch on the a-side. Which fortunately is resurrected next in the shape of a "Les Rhythmes Digitales New Wave Mix", which, as its title suggests, implants Visage-ish synth and bass into the cerebellum of the original, whisking it back in a puff of moon boots and ra-ra skirts to 1981. Which, as remixes go, is as good a thing for it to do as anything.

But please, Brian - don't let it go to your head. No more songs about friends in leather, mind-altering pills or donkeys in fishnets, thank you very much.

Rating: 8/10

Pretty much indistinguishable (to these tired old ears) from a host of other slinky femme R&Bsters, "Tell Me" is still a nice bit of bump & grind behind the bikesheds, with Mel sounding suitably slinky and seductive, vocal chords covered in golden syrup. Only the slightly dirty-knickers-in-public lyrics (obviously about little Jimbo the dancer) bring it down a tad ("All you loved was Mel B's money"), giving credence to criticism of the scary one that she's the one that wears the leopard-print trousers.

Remix territory on the b-sides; a "Soul" one and a "House" one, both of which purr and stomp respectively. The vid's also here and is indistinguishable (to these tired old eyes) from a million and one other promos featuring predatory R&B females on the prowl.

Rating: 5/10

"Moths" and "The Table" are even more grandparent-friendly, with their "oooh, hasn't he got a lovely voice" vocals and music that couldn't cause offence in a convent. Nevertheless, they offend me.

Rating: 2/10