THERE is no way that Noah & the Whale are likely to upset many people. Their instantly accessible, toyist sounds manage to trawl the most Caucasian of influences from Buddy Holly to The Springfields. Their edge comes from the backpages of Jonathan Richman and Wreckless Eric, while their occasionally twee lyrical witticisms owe something to The Coral and there's an other-worldiness that has a touch of Love about it.

By now you should have heard the summer radio hit, 5 Years Time, and it's in good company alongside the poppy fruitburst of Rocks and Daggers and Give A Little Love's accordion roll. The band may not take their influences as seriously as the first generation skifflers of 50 years ago, but the fresh acoustic sounds have come from somewhere very similar.