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And how come the Manics, for all their talk of creative rebirth and getting back to what they do best, are still writing these great big mournful songs of regret (it's a lot like 'The Everlasting', for example)? How come their primary emotive state seems to be wistful? They're not THAT old, are they?

I mean the cheap gag would be to point out that looking back over the power of your youth is not massively 'Manic', 'Street', or even 'Preachers', but just because it's an easy snark to make, doesn't make it entirely untrue.

Having said that, if anyone can get away with looking at their own past with a rueful eye, it's the Manics. And 'Autumnsong' does at least take the ennui (don't make me explain it) of 'The Everlasting' and broaden it out to include anyone else who may feel likewise, with what sounds like the promise of a musical cuddle if it all gets a bit too much.

Also, you can't dislike a song which begins with a blatant re-write of the beginning of 'Sweet Child O'Mine', and, this being 2007, there are some nice cod-operatic Queen backing vocal moments, just like the ones Mika, Take That and the Feeling like to use.

So, even though it's a cruel reminder of what we're all missing weatherwise, it's hard to totally dismiss a song when all it wants to do is go around making sure everyone is OK, and maybe offer a helping hand to people if they're feeling the strain.

None of which is remotely 'manic street preachers' either, but it's a hell of a lot nicer.

Download: Out now
CD Released: July 23rd

(Fraser McAlpine)