With the ancestry of the band including one Damien Rice, Irish quartet Bell X1 (pronounced Bell Ex One) have spent a sizeable chunk of their time touring their not unimaginative brand of alternative rock with the likes of Tom McCrae, Aqualung and Snow Patrol, which gives you some idea of where they're coming from. But don't let such connections put you off; by and large Flock is an album bursting with variety as well as well-crafted, meticulously played pop/rock tunes.

Just Like Mr Benn is a thoughtful masterpiece, My First Born For A Song is a classic written in an attic, despite what they say themselves, and the band can clearly do a classic hit-type song like Rocky Took A Lover, where in the best tradition of "paint by numbers" material you can tell when the verse/chorus/middle eight/key change is going to happen, but the great thing is, it doesn't matter! The song stands up in spite of its airy predictability.

It doesn't always work, though. He Said She Said is not quite a turgid mess, but it never gets going and leaves you reaching for the advance button. Still, this is quibbling. There are some damn fine songs on here. Great ideas, well executed, and by a band that deserves to be heard by a far wider audience.