I’m sure most people have been in this situation: you hear/see a really tiny band, enthuse about them to all your mates until they’re your band, then they suddenly get huge and you feel almost betrayed. Know the feeling? Well that’s me and Snow Patrol.

Snow Patrol have been knocking around for a few years now, ever since Gary (vocals/guitar) and Mark (bass) finished their stint at Dundee University and enlisted Jonny (drums) to help them make some amazingly crafted understated lo-fi rock songs. In 1998 they released the album Songs For Polar Bears, which the press was so busy comparing to Belle & Sebastian (on the basis that they’re labelmates and Richard Colburn drummed for the ‘Patrol before Jonny could join, not musical similarity) that they forgot to tell anyone that it was an incredibly impressive debut album, and consequently it sold sod all.

But 3 years on, having filled time supporting Ash and Travis amongst others, they’re back and better than ever before. Gary’s songwriting has matured immeasurably, and One Night Is Not Enough is all the proof you’ll need.

“You left your door wide open, I couldn’t help but walk in” murmurs Gary...and you fall in love. The sparing use of guitar, the fuzzed-up bass, the tension is building, “Was it only one night that you ever wanted from me?” Gary begs, you just know that any second it’s going to...there it goes! The distortion kicks in, and the monolithic chorus invades all your senses, you break out in involuntary goosepimples as the harmonies of the despairing “It’s not me that you love” refrain ring around your head.

To call this indie-rock would be unfair – it’s epic, souring rock that could fill stadiums if only the world would sit up and listen. It’s the kind of song that millions of lovelorn songsters have tried to write – it’s a straightforward tale of a one night stand that leaves one party wanting more – it’s so simple but it leaves a million melancholy bedroom strummers kicking themselves, wishing they’d written it first. It’s the kind of heart-on-sleeve confessional brilliance that makes you feel as head-over-heels for the band as the song’s hero did for the object of his affection.

Or am I going a bit over the top now? Nah, I’m not. Snow Patrol are on the brink of going stratospheric with “One Night…” being picked up by Steve Lamacq and Xfm amongst others, and an NME feature to come, and ‘my’ band are about to become public property.

But I’m not too bitter. This secret’s too good to keep. The single’s out 5th March with the album When It’s All Over We Still Have To Clear Up** (about which much more waxing lyrical could be done) following on 12th March.

Learn to love.