This is shocking. Can you believe someone is actually releasing a single of the sounds of midget love God Prince being giving a right royal kicking by Soulwax and Rage Against The Machine? It’s happy slapping gone vinyl. But, what with Prince being Prince, at least you can kind of understand.

Hold on. Ah I see ….the editor’s just pointed out that I am in fact reviewing the new Muse single, ‘Supermassive Black Hole’. That’s British ROCK BAND Muse. So how come they’re dabbling in Prince funk, dance beats and a layering of Rage guitars?

Yes, it’s a big departure from the rocky nature of their previous singles, but then it really isn’t all that surprising. Muse have that exhilarating mix of pop sensibilities and the joy of risk-taking. Both are evident on this single, but this time it never really takes off, with the booty-shaking and head-banging not aligned perfectly. But you can’t fault them for pushing the boundaries, and it’s a real tantaliser for the new album.

(3/5)

Check for Live Dates