One sultry night in late summer four well-mannered men play a vivacious show to a few dozen friends and enthusiasts at the Purple Turtle in Camden Town. Two weeks later they entertain a crammed industry ratfest at the Hope & Anchor in Islington. In the few days in between they are snapped up by Virgin Records. It probably isn't the shortest A&R non-race of all time, but it isn't far off. Happily, before the ink has dried on the major contract Royworld agree to release a single on Label Fandango. And this is it. "Elasticity" is dead smart pop like they used to make in the olden days mixed with the sort of lovely modern melodramatics which have recently seen them lurking in the studio with Andy Green, Keane's producer. The flipside "Tinman", meanwhile, is a quietly brilliant hyperballad which will have them swooning in the aisles and sweeping fallen angels off the altar.