In 2006, Mike Skinner released his third album The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living a follow-up to the smash hit 2004 concept album A Grand Don’t Come for Free. That album sold 3 million copies on the back of a huge single, ‘Dry Your Eyes’ but The Hardest Way… in comparison sold one-sixth of that. The album was not a pleasurable listening experience and it showed in the public reaction to it. Skinner agreed calling it an album of “guilt-ridden indulgence”.

Since then, Skinner has been holed up in his own private studio recording the next chapter Everything is Borrowed out September 15th, which he has said has a “peaceful, positive vibe”. He also claimed the fifth album would be his last as The Streets and likened it to Lou Reed’s Berlin. His most recent show in Dublin was also poorly attended so how does the new material fare?

The first single ‘The Escapist’ was made available as a free download from this website from today and the video which was shows Skinner walking the South of France is also below. Skinner’s delivery sounds a lackadaisical as ever but matched with the slow-tempo of the tune, it becomes aimless. It’s a pity because the instrumentation is certainly interesting with a background skiffling beat, nice plucked orchestral sounds and a gospel choir-backed chorus. We’re not feeling it.

Video: The Streets – ‘The Escapist’

A new album teaser mix is up on Myspace.