They specialise in delicious, delightful and perfect three-minute rock/pop songs that just grow and grow on the senses.

Having produced one of the finest rock songs ever with the wonderful Many Thanks For Your Honest Opinion and a cracking first album, they've upped the ante with their excellent latest offering Life is Sweet.

It contains a dozen more catchy songs, all of which sound different and are guaranteed to give aural delight.

Japan-bound to promote their wares and to bask in the adoration they fully deserve, they are also well-received in Europe, but have yet to conquer the UK.

With songs like the aforementioned Many Thanks and new creations aired live like A Hero's Welcome, My Finest Hour, An Unwelcome Guest and Famous Last Words these guys, however, have the weaponry to be up there with the big boys.

Having seen them three times in rooms with only a few dozen people enjoying the event, it would be a different world if there was a moshpit with the audience singing back the lyrics to them.

In fact, it would be a crime if that wasn't to happen.

And it's not very often a support band at such a low-profile gig is worth listening to, but Bishop Auckland-based Goldenman certainly were.

Their brand of synth-pop/rock had much in common with New Order, but their sound had its own impressive stamp.