Touriste – ‘Battle On’ (Faith & Hope) Released 11/09/06

With Keane and My Morning Runner as obvious comparisons, especially on the piano-driven B-side, this is clearly pitched as a mainstream radio anthem and there’s nowt wrong with that. Yet while it’s a pleasant enough tune, it all feels a bit too feeble and flaccid to inspire lighters-aloft moments on any significant scale. Seeing as it’s the debut single from the Isle Of Sheppey four-piece, and their average age is just 19, it seems only fair to point out that they still have time to develop into the next Coldplay; and given the right exposure, even this single may find them popular adoration among those who like their music “nice”. But it doesn’t do a lot for us.