A BLACK Morrissey anyone? Murray Lightburn is the unifying force holding The Dears together, and his vision is clearly influenced by his Brit forebears The Smiths.

While Warm And Sunny Days does ape the limp Mancunians. His ambitious Montreal outfit goes much further. The scope is great, from well-crafted rock, with detours into progressive, Britpop and even the odd single thrown in for good measure.

The lyrics are interesting ruminations, but it is the arrangements that grab the attention - a veritable smorgasbord of British rock, with a distinctive Canadian filter. Postcards From Purgatory has the reach of The Stone Roses' I Am The Resurrection, complete with exhilarating guitar finale. Auspicious and startling.

Updated: 10:26 Thursday, January 13, 2005