THEY'RE NOT REAL WOLVES

'We'rewolves' is the debut single from Oxford-Manchester six-piece Vigilance Black Special. It's an appropriate title - awful pun notwithstanding - given the band's propensity for the darker side of pop.

Oh don't get us wrong. They're not goths or anything so silly. Instead they come out at night and prowl the same bleak pop moors as Nick Cave, Tindersticks and Scott Walker before them. Ah, the romance of it all. Elegant, tender and comfortably nonchalant. And not a spark of morbid self-pity to be had.

You see Vigilance Black Special know what the archly ironic likes of The Divine Comedy and My Life Story long ago forgot - that this kind of thing only works when it's done absolutely seriously. With tongues kept well out of the way of cheeks. You think Matt Monroe was chuckling to himself when he crooned 'Born Free'? Well, do you? Of course not. Because he had some dignity. And the sort of voice that could make grown men swoon. Listen to VBS singer Adam Clayton and tell us we're lying. Tell us we're wolves even. Perhaps not. And yes, Adam is pretty sick of hearing people say "What, the Adam Clayton?" Obviously to his mum and close personal friends he is the Adam Clayton, but we think you get the point.

Where were we? Oh yes. Now listen to the second song on the single, 'Don't Chase Your Demons', a languidly portentous ballad with the immortal line "Be the master, of this disaster". Well go on then, do it.

Another thing. They've got a trombone player. Admit it, you love them already.