WATERCOLOUR songs are the fashion right now. Ever since The Thrills put the top down on their convertible and moseyed off to Californian shores, fey and winsome has been the name of the oh-so-cool game.

On first listen Woodstar come from the same school. But listen longer, because there's oil in their mix.

Be it Cold Cold Heart, with its short, sharp, Elastica rhythms, or Dumb Punk Song, with all the richness and flavour the Eels could ever muster, this Irish five-piece has an extra dimension over such wan offerings.

Unfortunately, there's also too much of the other: tracks such as Time To Bleed, which drifts by like a passing cloud, with no substance and leaving no trace. Good for a summer's day, but this is cold February, and they are yet to convince.

Updated: 09:07 Thursday, February 12, 2004