They sound like they've looked at Classic Rock magazines and thought 'I'll have some of that!'.

I remember the time; 1977, the Queen's Jubilee, we had a street party and all parents were asked to make their kids a hat for a competition. My mum must have misheard. The day before the party, I was given the information that it was to be a crown; my mum had slaved over a hat with a peak. I was only a kid. I was mortified. My mum's face fell. And at that moment I decided that the hat, a cardboard and felt construction, was fantastic and it just didn't matter. I left the house the following day with the shout 'mine's not a crown, but it's really good!' It was the best there, as well; my mother is a bit special.

And that may be where I get my love and admiration of people who do things a bit differently. My favourite Queen album? 'Hot Space'. My favourite Bowie album? 'Never Let Me Down' is up there. And that's perhaps also why I deride albums like this so much.

The Micronite Filters have beards and hats. They have that gritty Folk feel that hundreds of scenesters are loving so much. They ape Mumford and Sons... oh, and Bellowhead. It might sound refreshing at the beginning as is 'The Ballad Of The Banker's Son'; its Folky, it's Jazzy and it walks in a circle. And follower 'Chasing Ghosts' even adds muted horns to make us think they're trying hard.

But by the time an "authentic" gob iron and stamped foot confection arrives (this will be 'Ladies Man Blues'), it will be such a bore. Closer 'When The Lonesome Whistle Blows' even has the temerity to irk us slowly and even when there's some potential, as in 'The Exile & The Canary', which rolls in an electric piano to cheer us but also unpacks a wholly expected Country solo, the noir nature of the verses and the slow conformity just saps the strength.

The listing is split into two sides to ramp up the legitimacy and the packaging keeps a sense of mystery, the logos are good, the photos are grainy. They do seem to have an assurance in their sound, sometimes sounding like the wonderful Deadbeats who never really made it (remember them, anyone?) but this is scant enjoyment. Blues and Country? My, what a new idea? Do tell me more! And while you're at it, enlighten me about this new magical box that makes things cold... a refrigerator do you call it?

They may become something really special, there may be a strangeness inside them, but right now they sound like they've looked at Classic Rock magazines, thought 'I'll have some of that!' and set about lowering our expectations.

Steve Swift