‘Slight Return’ sounded like a shot from a bygone era, an 80s indie pop single – economical, sprightly and sweet, and not a hint of a dance element to its sound.  It was as if Madchester never happened, even though they were so clearly in thrall to The Stone Roses.  It’s faint praise, but it shouldn’t be.  The song is a perfect pop single, melodically lithe, simple and catchy as hell, not an iota longer or shorter than it ought to be, and completely at odds with anything else The Bluetones ever did.

Junior actually thought it was a waltz, wanted to take a turn with her dad around the dining room as the song played through the laptop’s speakers.  No idea where the album went – not that I miss the sappy thing – it probably merged with the reproduction wood of the CD shelves, tepid anonym that it is.  We just revel in the coy beauty of ‘Slight Return’ and Mark Morriss’ awkward “hey!” before the last chorus.