The Longsands – Meet Me In Spanish City (Unknown Soldier Records) *****

There’s not a lot to not like about The Longsands. They have all the key ingredients and qualities that a good band should have. I haven’t heard melodies of this standard in a long, long time and they’re catchy melodies at that.

This band have some clever ideas going on within their music and to top it all off the lyrics are pretty good too, very witty and tongue in cheek.

The Longsands remind me a lot of some of the britpop bands from the 90s which may explain why Mark Morriss of The Bluetones is a fan of the band.

Russ Petcher, 37, bassist, Low Moor , Bradford

Still Leven – Cases of Bluntness (Pronoia Records) **

Is this band for real? Track one Soulsearching sounds exactly like a song from the rather strange and quite bizarre comedy The Mighty Boosh.

It’s incredibly electro 80s which isn’t particularly my favourite genre of music. Influences such as Kraftwerk, Joy Division and Arab Strap don’t really float my boat but I’m a firm believer in the saying “Each to their own”.

A lot of this CD consists of monotone vocals and may be if Still Leven had been around during the 80’s then may be they might have made some kind of impact but the truth of the matter is that they weren’t and so I think that they will struggle as a band to find more mainstream audience.

Russ Petcher, 37, bassist, Carr Lane, Low Moor

Jay Stansfield – Lovism (White Label Music) ****

The debut album by Lancashire-born Jay Stansfield is a fine and accomplished entry to the music scene, blending acoustic indie with dashes of folk and electronic to unexpected but nevertheless pleasant results.

Throughout, it is possible to discern the likes of Jeff Buckley and George Harrison as musical inspirations – indeed several tracks have a decidedly early Beatle-esque air to them. A particular highlight is the simple and refined This Is Love with its minimalist melody and sweet-sounding vocals.

While perhaps a little too restrained to punch out into the mainstream, the album remains a testament to Stansfield’s song-writing potential.

Charlotte McCallum, student, 21, Ashbourne Crescent