Buttressed by a rock-solid rhythm section and with plenty of guitar pyrotechnics on offer, Cord's standout track 'I'm Leaving You' slots into a seamless set that manages to combine adventure with entertainment and genuine emotion; no "look at us, we're so sensitive" histrionics here, this feels like the real thing and if it isn't then the band should give lessons to many a UK soap opera on how to portray the fact that there is dignity in suffering.  Eastenders? Get out of here!

And so it comes to Oceansize, this week's anointed saviours of British Rock™.  Vaguely disappointing then that they only play for just short of 40 minutes themselves, and seem a little aloof about the whole show as if it’s the warm-up for bigger, better things. Which it probably is, but they could at least have pretended. 

Much leaping about and tomfoolery from the guitar-based front line, and a more relaxed performance from the drum and bass section, doesn’t disguise the fact that their minds seemed focussed elsewhere; a few missed notes and a lack of between-song banter doesn’t endear them to the Norwich crowd.  Nor does the sound quality, a sludgy mix of mid-range and sub-bass that had the walls shaking but leaves the crowd disappointingly static.

Despite these handicaps, they breeze through, with the Sisters Of Mercy schtick laid to one side; ‘One Day All This Will Be Yours’, ‘Women Love Men Who Love Drugs’ and the new single all going down a relative storm. ‘Massive Bereavement’, on the other hand, suggests they should stop pilfering song titles from old BBC comedy series.  But yes, they have a certain rugged Mancunian charm, and their performance does indeed hint at better things yet to come.  A good start to what could be their most auspicious year.
(4/5)