Once upon a time Kaiser Chiefs filled the void vacated by Damon Albarn’s mockney-era Blur with cheeky chappy anthems such as I Predict A Riot.

Just like Blur, Kaiser Chiefs had to undergo an evolution of sound. Whilst Blur and acts such as Radiohead evolved into sonic plains, which they conquered, Kaiser Chiefs have evolved into something which merely mimics the contemporary synth-pop sound of the day – hardly surprising for a band who came to prominence by mimicking Britpop in the first place.

Their sixth album, ‘Stay Together’, sees them trying to position themselves as the British answer to Maroon 5, having ditched the working class charm for a sleeker, more sophisticated dancefloor sound and approach. Sadly for the Kaiser Chiefs, they aren’t doing anything that Take That aren’t already doing better than them.

Musically, ‘Start Together’ is competent but catchy in a forgettable sort of way. It won’t send you running for the off button, but it won’t leave you with a thirst for more either.

Ricky Wilson’s gleefully rough vocal of old is replaced by an unrecognisable delivery taking its cues from the likes of Simon Le Bon and Leo Sayer.

Much of the album hinges on Wilson’s ability to pull off his role as faux disco ringmaster. Unfortunately it’s more facsimile than fabulous, with Wilson’s voice often struggling to marshal the pulsating rhythms around it getting swallowed whole more than once across the album’s eleven tracks.

That said, ‘Stay Together’ is far from a total disaster – tracks such as Hole in My Soul, Press Rewind, Happen In A Heartbeat, and High Society are all efficient radio-friendly pop songs. It’s hard to fault the Kaiser Chiefs for having the balls to reinvent themselves, but they only just about get away with it here.

Should you really stay together for a 3 out 5? It’s only fair to expect better from such an established act.