Saddle up your space hoppers cause this debut mini-album from Futures is bouncier than the world's largest rubber band ball. And it's free. I'll say that again - it's free.

Luckily, listening to Futures isn't half as complicated as trying to describe their stock-market namesake. It's easy. Take a handful of catchy melodies add a young handsome singer, put a guitar round his neck and a mic in front of his face and believe me, the girls will come. No double entendre meant but it's there if you want it.

This compact introduction to the band gives us 26 minutes and 7 whole power pop parables to think on. Powerful, slamming production drives opener '16' and immediately tells you what the band is all about - catchy melodic power pop sing-alongs. The wall of guitars is somewhat reminiscent of My Vitriol but that aside they could be dead ringers for The Rocket Summer. Actually I think that they would make snug bedfelllows - on tour that is. Someone should make it happen.

Third song in is 'Sal Paradise' and those of you who know your literature will know that he's the narrator in Jack Kerouac's novel 'On The Road'. Hard-core jazz fanatic Kerouac would never approve of course but he's dead, isn't he? Still, I could imagine him pissed on wine clapping along out of time to this chorus.

Next is 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf' which has that rubbery bouncy feel that I mentioned earlier plus a shout-along chorus that has The Automatic written all over it. This is the kind of song that makes concert floors collapse so be careful people - or if you can't be careful just enjoy yourselves before meeting your maker. Don't say you haven't been warned.

At the finish line all too soon we end with a big 'Thank You' with its Counting Crows-like verses. And it's all over.

Up to now I've been trying to avoid describing this band as girly pop metal. But really, if you like Twilight, like lots of eyeliner or guyliner and you watch Scuzz voraciously then this band will be for you. What? I'm only trying to help here.

It would seem like relative unknowns Futures have it all mapped out in front of them. Futures are on tour now until March. And I'll say it one last time - this album is available to download from the 1st March. It's free. So get downloading and get listening.

www.wearefutures.co.uk

www.myspace.com/futures