Not for nothing did Witness spend the large part of this year being referred to as 'Nick McCabe's mates'. From Wigan, and recorded in the converted chip shop owned by their guitarist's mum and dad, it would be fair to say that Witness sound in no small way at all, rather like The Verve.
Specifically, it's the 'Something for the mums' version of The Verve, rather than the 'Crikey! I'm an astral voyager and I don't wear shoes either' The Verve: the bits where there's a bit of a warm guitar noodle before the tune kicks in again. The interesting thing with Witness is that it doesn't. All poise and heartbreak, with none of the incipient madness, here there is tasteful heartbreak and mournful introspection but not much else besides. Really, it's just five cats and their bag.