FURS FOUNDER ON FORMULA

“MIDNIGHT TO MIDNIGHT.” Psychedelic Furs. Columbia.

The English band’s first album in three years raises a not-unusual question: If an album is better than 80% of other current releases yet represents the further decline--or at least pattern-holding--of the group, do you applaud it or condemn it?

Singer Richard Butler, bassist Tim Butler and guitarist John Ashton made a gorgeously atmospheric, exotic and rhythmically exciting debut LP in 1980, but the albums since then have been progressively more disappointing. Fortunately, Richard Butler’s vocals remain so magnificently smoky that much can be forgiven--including the way that his delivery, like the music’s tone and beat, changes little from track to track.

Just about everything on “Midnight to Midnight” (produced by Chris Kimsey) will sound pretty dandy to listeners who aren’t very familiar with the older Furs recordings--especially if they avoid experiencing the album all the way through in one increasingly numbing listening. The closest thing to a standout track is “Heartbreak Beat.” It’s certainly a candidate for hitdom, but even this lovely song strays not far at all from what’s become a rigid formula.

But since the Furs never received the attention they were due when making great albums (the first two), let’s be happy that the band is still around and sounding quite all right, even if the promise of greater things has long been reneged.