Head Of Programmes - The Magnetic South

are sadly one of those bands you hear in a record shop that catches your ear but never to the point where you feel inclined to ask the owner who it is that’s playing. ‘The Magnetic South’ is certainly a pleasant listen, but opening two tracks ‘The Good Ship’ and ‘Police Light’ float on by without too much bother – this is safe, if rather flat, folk with a twist of Magic Numbers mixed in.

Of the six tracks on offer here only a handful offer anything worth a repeat listen. Midway through things kick into gear, the band dig their heels in and produce something infinitely classier than any of its predecessors. ‘Waiting Room Number’ is cleverly infused with a cello that helps the band raise their game somewhat, only for its epic grandeur to be rubbished again by ‘Nurse’, a somewhat non-descript if inoffensive offering. This may well be where Head of Programmes let themselves down the most – their twin male / female vocals are effective but let down by uninspired singing that ultimately makes the whole thing a little too much effort than it’s worth.