Brilliant, as bold a title as you’re ever likely to see, is Ultravox’s 11th studio album, and their first since Ingenuity in 1994. The electro-pop band has not been the same without lead vocalist Midge Ure and this is the first time he has appeared as the front man for nearly 30 years – making Brilliant perhaps the legitimate Ultravox comeback album that fans have been waiting for.

Although I always found John Foxx’s Ultravox more appealing as an entity, the band did admittedly fork out some killer singles in the 80s with Ure fronting; by far the band’s most successful period.

The most impressive aspect of Brilliant is that it’s a near perfect mix of past and future. The songs are anthemic and melodic with Ure’s powerful vocal straining at the leash, and the production is more than passable, revelling in Ultravox’s trademark, syncopated synth sound. In fact, Billy Currie even goes as far as to dig out his vintage ARP Odyssey synth on numerous tracks to reproduce some truly nostalgic Ultravox-style synth memorabilia.

The album opens with a host of big, bold atmospheric electronic rock songs - the title track is capable of getting stuck in your head for days, before moderating itself on the elusive, rustic Change. The album is also well-served by some pretty good ballads, such as Remembering and One, not quite on a par with their classic ‘Vienna’ perhaps, but worthy of repeat listens all the same.

Sandwiched in between, the bellowing Hello provides another anthemic assault, with grizzly ARP synths screaming over power piano chords and chugging guitars, and check out Currie’s glorious violin strains on Satellite. I would like to have heard a lot more of Currie’s strings throughout as they do add a mysterious edge, enhancing the icey rhythmic electronic patterns.

100% synthpop, Brilliant could be construed by some as a rather old-fashioned throwback, but it’s certainly no worse than anything Goldfrapp or Ladytron are producing, despite lacking those bands’ modern production sheen.

All in all, a successful return for Ultravox who stick to doing what they do best and focus strongly on the songwriting to achieve it.