Here’s a Newcastle four-piece reading their favourite magazine and trying their best not to frown over my unnecessarily frequent use of the phrase “Lordy lordy!”

Lovely Assistant – featuring Annie (keys, voice), Kieran (bass, voice), Dave (guitar) and Matt (drums) – are a very interesting proposition indeed, particularly if you like bands to let all manner of influences into their sound, from Vampire Weekend-like indie/pop to after-midnight piano ballads to lounge-like jazz. Their first album ‘greetings from the pre-wave’ was crowdfunded and released on Newcastle’s Treetrunk Records in 2020 and is resplendent with glorious tunes and little melodic nuggets that are fizzing with invention. Their second album ‘fuck love’ is due out on 28 February and tracks I’ve heard from it, such as ‘Passengers Reminded’, sound fabulous. That particular track has a spring in its step, is beautifully played, and has a Blue Nile like twinkle to it, which bodes very well. After the album is released the band – it says here – intend on embarking on a UK tour of village halls and petrol stations. Lordy lordy! DP

Seek: facebook.com/lovelyassistantmusic