ULTRASOUND, at the Hop and Grape, Manchester

ANDY "Tiny" Woods and Ultrasound could do no wrong for the fans who packed this intimate venue.

They managed to thrill, tease and torment into submission any who haven't already caught on to this excellent and rapidly rising indie outfit.

The band, from Wakefield, began their mission to find fame and success four years ago. Along the way the five-piece have become better known for their off-stage antics than for any chart success.

With frontman Tiny proudly sporting a sweat band, eyeliner and an oversized belly that spilled out of a pair of red tartan trousers, it wasn't difficult to see their novelty value.

Ultrasound's quirky image hit the tabloid press with the unlikely appearance of Tiny's huge figure on the London Fashion Week catwalk alongside bass player Vanessa Best.

But as the pair strutted their stuff for Red or Dead, it was drummer Andy Peace and keyboardist Matt Jones who stole the headlines as walked the length of the catwalk stark naked.

Ultrasound cannot be written off as no-hit-wonders, for they did hit the top 30 with their first single proper Stay Young. But to judge them without seeing them live would be to miss the point of a band whose bright pop tunes should illuminate the new millennium. Their sound fits neatly into the indie spectrum somewhere between Placebo and Mansun, with keyboards giving depth to the melody.

Although their set is only an hour long, it's quality all the way. The fact that they don't take themselves to seriously is a bonus. From the glam choreography of their entrance to their kitsch fashion code, they're having one hell of a ball.

Highlights were current single Floodlit World and the title track from their debut album Everything Picture, which was a fitting end to the set, seeing Vanessa bring the curtain down in rousing style.

Musically, there isn't a weak spot to be found within their armoury, the electrifying guitar work of Richard Green blending brilliantly with the Vanessa's sexy bass lines. The only question mark hangs over the Tiny's vocals but tonight he more than held his own.

CLIVE LAWRENCE

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