Hello out there folks in internet land!

I thought I would start out by talking about a new band who fall into the category of 'things I like'!

I recently heard about this band from a friend, they're called 'Van Tramp'. He heard their track 'New England' on BBC 1's 'Grandstand' here in the UK and after a few weeks he researched the band and liked what he found out. After some quick internet research of my own I found they are a British outfit fronted by an American and an acoustic guitar

Their most recent outing, an acoustic promo album, beat out new releases from Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young and Bob Dylan to the top spot in Florida internet-radio show 'The Acoustic Record's' Album of the year, so it's safe to say they have talent! (http://www.theacousticrecord.com/)

I am basing my review on 4 tracks from the upcoming release 'Ultraviolet EP' available via the band's myspace page at www.myspace.com/vantramp.

The first track I heard; 'Hope & Pray' starts with a melodic piano battling with frontman Tim Howar's vocals before a buzzing guitar riff sets the tone and the song takes off. Fluid rhythm leads the song into a sing-along chorus and fades out just as pleasingly leaving me wondering what happened to the 4 minutes that just flew by.

Next up was 'Something' which I can only assume is a past single as there's a hosted video on the site, the track would be at home on a Goo Goo Dolls album or even an Oasis album if you concentrate hard! Another slice of impressive classic guitar rock that succesfully builds on the sound of the first track.

My favourite of the songs on their site is 'The Garden', an acoustic guitar-led anthem that I can imagine swaying along to during a sunny, summer stadium tour, the song provides a deep sound with many levels to enjoy and a melody you won't soon forget.

With 'Help Me To Make It', a trembling acoustic melody undercuts a slide guitar and soft vocals to create a song that any number of established recording artists would be happy to have written!

However you look at it, a band with a singer who sounds like a cross between Bono and Springsteen and a hook-laden, anthemic, stadium-filling sound, deserve to soon fill stadiums and I encourage you all to see what you think yourselves. According to their myspace page there's an EP out soon and a live show scheduled for August in London and I for one intend to attend!

Cheers for reading!

The Music Man

P.S. Tomorrow's blog will probably be either something 'I don't like' or something 'CLASSIC!' feel free to let me know which you would prefer.