CityLife

The Libertines - What Became of The Likely Lads (Rough Trade)

HAS there ever been a more apt song title than this? After a dramatic rise followed by tabloid-narrated trauma and division, Carl and Pete are left to wonder éwhat became of foreveré.

Ramshackle even by their own raw standards, What Becameé is less instant but no less autobiographical than forerunner Canét Stand Me Now with which it shares a similar kind of deliberately ragged call-and-response vocal interplay.

Over a nagging fifties-style guitar line, the chorus is introduced by an almost comically over-emphasised éOhé that ités not hard to imagine a club full of Liber-teens chanting in unison, broad grins on their faces.

The hoards of rabid fans will surely be hoping that their favourite wideboys are not serving up a valediction.

What do you think? Have your say.

Released October 25.