Oh the drama of it all: melancholic openings, Counting Crows vocal vulnerability, string quartet movement, an elusive female subject and respect for the romantically traditional epistolary form. These Countermine boys really do know how to wrench it from the heart.

"You promised me you'd never go," croons front man of the strangled five from Bath on new epic offering, Letters. And gosh, don't you feel for the poor girl who made the lucky escape from these limp leaves of lettuce. Apparently they have been making simply standard music for 10 years, and so the average age of 22 puts their formation back at school. Their playing talents have presumably progressed, but whether their subject matter has is questionable.

Listen and you'll conjure up a very pretty picture of them deliberating the rhymes at socially bland King Edwards School for Boys over a quick glass of milk. Hopefully said female didn't leave a forwarding address.