It's been a while since Britpop had its moment. So much so that Supergrass is now embarking on a nostalgia tour. Mark J Gidden doesn't seem to be too worried about that. He just cranks out glorious melodic bashers that sound like they never left the 90s.

Mark J Gidden Have You Heard? (Nub Music)

The extensive list of influences in his press material includes the obvious (Oasis, Pixies, Blur), the heavier (Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Velvet Revolver) and the headscratching (Coldplay?). Let's just say he likes melodic rock music that doesn't exactly conform to genre. Oh, and he's got a real knack for arrangement.

These songs are crafted to last, and Gidden makes sure to build them with the finest materials. His hooks are solid, his grooves are sufficiently muscular and his singing is just off-hand enough to foster intimacy.

Gidden has traveled through bands like Traveller, Twenty81, Lorsen and Virtual Earth. He's now hanging out his own shingle. My ear puts this closest the band I referenced up top, though Gidden isn't joking about his long list of creative inspirations. There was a time when this sort of stuff was called "modern rock." It's not modern any more, but that doesn't make it any less addictive. Most satisfying.

Jon Worley