Puressence: 'Drop Down To Earth'

You have to admire Puressence's stamina. They're not quite up there with Cliff Richard in the pop-longevity stakes but they ain't far behind. If Sir Cliff is the champion marathon runner, then these baggy Manchester rockers are probably storming the 1500 metres. Yet despite plugging away with their brand of swirling, seductive anthems for well over 15 years, they've never truly broken through into the mainstream, bar the odd appearance on TFI Friday back when anyone wearing a parka jacket and holding a guitar was guaranteed Chris Evans' undivided love.

The band were formed after they all broke into the legendary Stone Roses Spike Island gig in 1991, so unsurprisingly their sound reeks of material by messrs Squire and Brown. It's all free flowing melodies, looping guitars and tumbling drums. If you can imagine some weird hybrid of The Lightning Seeds, Gene, Echo and The Bunnymen and pretty much every Madchester act from the last 20 years then you'll get something close to 'Drop Down To Earth'. While that sounds like a thrilling proposition in theory, the end result lacks sparkle, and James Murdricki's vocal drifts by like an empty crisp packet in the wind.

They could undoubtedly show The Twang a thing or two about laddish tales of broken hearts, spilt pints and grotty council estates with their many years in the game, but they lack the pizzazz and charisma to truly make you care.