'Magnet' opens with a drumbeat that should have you humming the opening chords of Blur’s 'Song 2' in your head, but just as you’re ready to shout "woohoo", you’re suddenly transported back in time to 2005 by a descending angular guitar riff that’s stylistically somewhere between early Maxïmo Park and Interpol. We are then introduced to Jack Steadman’s vocal talents, chiefly characterised by the fact that he sounds like he’s underwater. It blends into the music so much that individual words are often inaudible, but with lines like “last night you woke me up/We almost fell in love/But then you said/It is time for bed” it’s probably a case of "if you don’t have anything interesting to say, there’s no point in making sure people can hear it". The Interpol influence can once again be heard on the chorus, which is uplifting and anthemic, with echoing guitar bends and backing vocal "ooh"s. Ultimately, you will find plenty to enjoy about this track, but only if you can shut off the little voice in your head that screams "heard it all before!"

Released 28th September 2009 on Island Records

Words by Alex MacDonald