Sergeant - 'Sunshine'

When applied to new bands, the phrase “Championed by Alan McGee” is not necessarily a copper-bottomed guarantee of quality. For every Glasvegas, there’s been a Mishka, for every Oasis a Cosmic Rough Riders. And, of course, let’s not forget who stumped up the cash that made this possible.

But in the case of Sergeant, McGee’s is just one voice amongst a general clamour screeching the words, “Next big thing.” Hailing from Glenrothes, Fife, the knockabout quartet have been snapped up by Mercury Records, and are being managed by the same team that master-minded the The Fratellis’ triumphant mainstream assault.

Like fellow great Scots Attic Lights, Sergeant revive the breezy jangle-pop of Teenage Fanclub, although in their case they’ve left out the lush Laurel Canyon harmonies in favour of a distinctively British, propulsive, Merseybeat sense of rhythm. In fact, if you didn’t know Sergeant were from Scotland, you’d assume Sunshine, with its beaming, sparky chorus, was the work of the latest Cosmic Scousers on the block.

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