Club S.O.S.

Brace yourselves for the next instalment of Mancunian angst that's about to come your way any minute now...

Oldham three-piece Twisted Wheel may be named after the nightspot that put the mod-fused dance craze Northern Soul on the map, but the similarities pretty much end there. Whilst no one can argue that their demeanour takes on an entirely northern perspective while songs like 'You Stole The Sun' bristle with as much soul and enthusiasm as you'd expect from a relatively youthful band just making a name for themselves on the live circuit, their music could be described as the Coral playing punk rock songs in the key of C.

Sure, there'll no doubt be the elitists crying into their real ale at the thought of another so-called "lad rock" ensemble on the block, but maybe what these people really need is a history lesson. After all, the most notorious villains on the block from the Kray twins through to Chelsea and Millwall's infamous hooligangs not to mention the rise of the national front in the late ‘70s via skinhead-based punk rock all originated within the confines of the capital, so any talk of northern laddishness is as incorrect as it is tiresome.

No instead, forget their roots, ignore their background and just once allow yourself to get caught up in the energy as singer Jonny Brown denounces all around him in the bittersweet 'Strife' or Adam Clarke reminds us that once upon a time back in the days of Keith Moon and John Bonham, being a drummer was actually a focal and exciting part of a band as opposed to nothing more than a paid timekeeper.

Of course Twisted Wheel are going to split opinions, but everything from lime-flavoured cola to the latest James Bond does, too. Just make sure that before you form yours, your mind hasn't already been swayed by those indier-than-thou but knowledgeable as an amoeba beforehand, as your loss will undoubtedly be many others’ gain.