Kleptomania is the fourth and final album by English rock band Mansun, released in September 2004 following the band's split. The first CD features the material that was to form the basis the band's next album, which was originally going to be self-titled, and the other 2 CDs feature EP tracks, outtakes and demos.

The band split up while recording songs for the album Kleptomania, leaving unfinished tracks that were never released. An extensive explanation of the break-up has never been made public although a press release by Paul Draper stated that the band had simply "grown apart".

EMI had originally not intended to release the material until an online petition, which gained over 4000 signatures, demonstrated that there was demand for it from fans. Draper was not in a positive frame of mind about Mansun at the time but agreed to work on the material after EMI contacted him, on the basis that the material would be released as part of a boxset featuring other material.

Despite previewing several tracks from Kleptomania live on what was Mansun's final tour of 2002, Stove King's playing did not feature on any of the tracks which were included. Instead Dominic Chad and Paul Draper shared bass duties.

Kleptomania was recorded at several locations including St. Catherine's Court, a recording studio owned by Jane Seymour, where fellow Parlophone act Radiohead recorded the acclaimed OK Computer album, and at Rockfield Studios which has been used by acts such as Queen and The Stone Roses. Paul Draper later stated that the band split in the middle of recording "Cry 2 My Face".

Paul Draper states in the sleeve notes that "Good Intentions Heal the Soul" was always intended to conclude the album. The song is one of the singer's most open lyrics, throughout Mansun's career; Draper had attempted to write lyrics which were more direct.

The boxset includes a retrospect by Paul Draper in which he talks about each track included on the album.

Kleptomania contains a number of hidden tracks. The first disc contains an instrumental called "The dog from two doors down" (credited to "The Nurk Twins"). The third disc contains three: "Thief", different mix of an earlier EP B-side track; "Witness to an Opera" an instrumental version of a song from the band's second album Six; and "Stupid Open Space" a jazz-funk cover of Wide Open Space (credited to Mike Hunter).

...
Wikipedia