Aqualung, aka Southampton-born singer/songwriter Matt Hales plus guitarist brother Ben and other musicians on tour, are in that strange position. Of actually being bigger in the US than the UK. Consequently, third album Memory Man, which this single is taken from, came out in the States in March yet its British release date has been put back to August.

It was ‘Brighter than Sunshine’ that earned Matt his big break Stateside after it featured on 2005’s When-Harry-Met-Sally-aping ‘A Lot Like Love’. Three years earlier, Hales had found fame at home with ‘Strange and Beautiful’. A track which became even more ubiquitous after Volkswagen chose it to soundtrack their TV ad for the new Beetle.

‘Cinderalla’, a trademark Radiodheadesque swirling soundscape of a record, should prove a hit both sides of the Pond. With or without the help of advertisers or films. Not that Matt shouldn’t be prepared to be bombarded with calls from those in the advertising industry and world of movies after they hear his latest effort.

(4/5)