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OK, so, apart from showing that Tom and co could probably write any kind of song about any kind of thing whatsoever and make a decent fist of it, what does their latest song tell us about the state of affairs in the McFly career? Well, it's a BIG song. It would be a BIG song even without the extra brass and massive pop production, but it's positively monumental now.

This proves that, despite all the gossip about them being dropped by their record label and having to set up on their own because their appeal is dwindling, they clearly don't have to cut corners just yet. Why, it's almost as if the gossip is a load of old poop and the band are keen to prove this very thing.

This could always be an elaborate double-bluff, of course, but let's give them the benefit of the doubt for now.

This 'more is more' approach can also be seen in the video. Never mind getting the band to mime their latest hit on a rainy street, this is a mini-feature film, half-based on the '80s Mel Gibson film Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. I mention this only because a video like this probably cost several times the budget used in recording the song. Maybe even as much as a deal with the Daily Mail to give your new album away for free.

So, 'Lies' either represents a last, desperate roll of the dice, in which most of the band's finances are staked on a gigantic, career-saving production which just cannot be ignored, or an opportunity to waste a tiny fraction of the band's money mountain in a way their former record company bosses would not have allowed.

Personally, I hope it's the latter. If only because someone seems to be going "ha-HAA" just like Will Smith at around the 4 minute, 10 seconds mark. You can't get away with that unless you're feeling VERY confident indeed...

Download: Out now
CD Released: September 15th
www.mcflyofficial.com

(Fraser McAlpine)