EARL, Cellar Bar, Blackburn

EAST Lancashire all-girl group Earl found themselves an appreciative audience at Blackburn's Cellar Bar.

Two sets of five songs late on a Saturday evening showed why record companies and audiences in London have taken to the group.

Before the gig, singer Ruth Daniel made a point of saying that a lot of stuff was very new because they have only recently welcomed Liz Andrews to the band.

They shouldn't have worried, as their favourable sound is as good as ever -- thanks in no small way to Ruth's unique voice.

Their newer music has a faster but darker feel.

Older tracks like Dark Universe and Soul Situation are deep and loud, whereas the music in the second set was designed to make a point.

New Deal and Stop the City all have anti-capitalist and anti-government undertones, while Risky Disco summed up the group perfectly -- a dance/rock sound which will hopefully take them far.