For a band as professedly well versed in the works of Kurt Vonnegut and Samuel Beckett as The Fallout Trust, you might expect inciting, revolutionary concepts in their lyrics. What you might not expect are effortlessly melodic and swooshing vocals layered quite beautifully over a mighty synth-dominated guitar backdrop.

When We Are Gone is the kind of tune that should be played in locations fitting to its unpretentious grandiosity - starless nights in vast fields; precipitous cliffs: it has a very exciting, brooding intensity to it. It swells, from opening drum machine clicks to portentous crescendo of consummate and joyous caterwauling guitars which knock air out of you. The chorus hits you hard, unexpectedly hard, and when those screaming guitars join in, so the tidal wave strikes. And what a glorious feeling it is.

The song is meticulously constructed, surging from unassuming beginnings to an irresistible culmination. It must be noted here, that despite the band's fondness for synthesisers, the 80's revivalist band tag is avoided so ably and so latitudinally that it doesn't warrant comparison: they achieve a very modern sound which, set alongside the unmistakably retro atmosphere creates almost a Modernist feel. The London-based sextet's affiliations with Maximo Park and recent tour with yourcodenameis:milo would suggest a louder, more aggressive sound, but on record at least they sound considerably more mature and accomplished, enough so, even, to have potential to stand out from their contemporaries.

With the debut album due out later in 2005, we might just see them fulfil this potential.

Words by Michael Hartnell