Rob McCulloch - Six of One

21 year-old Bolton native Rob McCulloch deals in melodic, storytelling indie with 'Six of One' looking set "to make 2007 Rob's year." Unfortunately, on this evidence it's all too familiar and uneventful, with a Northern lilt in his voice echoing a weaker Richard Ashcroft and the tale of woe on the streets belying an obvious tip of the hat to Sheffield songsmiths of past and present. B-side 'Sonny' stays on the softer side and thus gives McCulloch's vocals more bite, a definite redeeming feature, if only just. [Jon Seller]