The next time someone whinges on about Popstars killing the music industry, tell them to shut it - very firmly. Because Waterman, Halliwell and their equally ill advised cronies may be the ones who will save the day.

Before you accuse me of talking out of my arse, think about it. Every saccharine coated, saliva dripping, acne ridden, fame hungry wannabe that gets added to the list of Hear’Say, Gareth Gates and Rosie Ribbons is actually having a positive effect on the music biz. ‘Tis true because unbeknown to them, they’re creating a resurgence, enticing people like you and me who’ve had enough to actually do something positive like… form a band.

Take The Mighty 590 for instance. They’re just five lads from Windsor and Brighton who simply make the music they want to hear, and soon you will too. The opening song on this demo ‘No More Superheroes’ could well be a rant about the blandness of most nomark personalities who pollute the music industry, yet instead serves as a manifesto, a subservient call to arms c/o The Mighty 590. After all, how many of you honestly believed John Lydon would help change the face of music when he screamed “Get Off Your Arse!” live on TV in 1976?

Second track ‘A Little Competition’ is the one that stands out on here for me. It's a highly charged powerpop number that recalls Pixies, Ash and early Creation stalwarts The Times, while vocalist Ross McDonough announces “I’m gonna put you in second place, with this human race.”

Add a glistening keyboard sound that owes as much to Keith Emerson as it does any member of The Cooper Temple Clause, and you have one of the most enlightening array of sounds I’ve heard in ages.

Not that The Mighty 590 are all loud, loud, loud! Closing number ‘Seven’ is a poignant ballad that will make Craig David fans choke on their mushroom vol-au-vents. McDonough’s wistful lyric reads “Day one, my life is floating by, day two, a flash before my eyes, day three, I’m forgotten…,” ably assisted by Richard May’s oh-so-subtle fretwork.

The most pleasing aspect from this demo is that The Mighty 590 are difficult to categorise. Yeah it’s guitar-based pop but it doesn’t fit in with any fad, which will given them the edge over any bandwagon jumping Tom, Dick or Dolf in the long run, and whether One True Voice or Girls Aloud are as responsible as Frank Black, I’m all ears for the real sound of the underground.