At least to those ‘in-the-know’ Londoners Manchester will be wearing the worn-out & tatty ‘Madchester’ Indie-rock badge for a few years yet. Sure, it’s reputation for breeding the kind of musical aptitude that ensures the home of the annual In The City showcases is pervasive in it’s reputation but it seems a new style is breaking ground and ostensibly it’s just those within Manchester who can feel it.

‘They’re’ calling it Manctronica. They? Dave Haslam recently compared Manchester’s creativity to an incubator and ‘_they’ _are the progressive innovators developing inside. Acts like *Nylon Pylon, Superstring *and *Mum & Dad *who, by adapting electronica to their line-up, come out with a visually and aurally exciting sound that gets your heart racing.

Oh and by-the-way, you can add Minor Planet *to that list. Having recorded one demo since their inception in 2000, _‘Swallows & Amazons’ _is their new recording and will surely see a buzz following this band over the coming months. It’s title track has been played on Radio 1 and Mcr’s Key 103 and it’s easy to see why. Opening up with a simplistic bass and vocal introduction it subtly slides into a luscious and warm chorus complete with soulful brass before a *Moby-like break where a lone, laid back trumpet glides over the funky, interweaving backline.

It’s a track that’s probably a little too laid-back for the A-list at Radio 1, but then that would be the only complaint I have and one that could be remedied if they were to add some of Bran Van’s upbeat disco funk to the mix, along with Moloko’s weird experimentation. Such as in sassy second track ‘Inside outside’, where a little vocal distortion would sound wonderfully obtuse. But then that’s probably my warped music taste and although they’re maybe playing a bit safe at times, MP _have _opted for a commercial sound. (Maybe I just love risk-takers.)

A very promising act nonetheless and with a live percussion and brass section one you should really see live.