Sod these long, patronising intros for a lark! Settle back and set up 20 pints of Boddington's as we head up to Macclesfield for the best tape of the week...

The surprise discovery of a dreary Playback bunch (34 tapes- five good and another four worth talking about), The Macc Lads- Muttley, Beater and Stez Styx- have produced a seven-song, one-gallon demo that should be at the top of every A&R man's urgent tray.

Life with The Lads is one glorious piss-up, set to a primeval backdrop of punchy, pugnacious, evil-brewing punk. The sound- although a bit dated- is immediately arresting, a bit like a northern Sham and Anti-Nowhere League meeting Ivor Biggun and a spiced-up version of the early Wurzels!

The Wurzels? Yep...well it's in the lyrics. Worse than Derek and Clive and Jimmy Jones on a bad night. The Macc Lads songs are bloody disgusting. We're talking sewer here- 90 percent of their lyrics are unprintable, but cleaned-up versions of their songs would sound weak, limp and lifeless ("a bit like what's in your hand"- a Macc Lad).

The major preoccupation for the terrible trio is Boddington's bitter- it's mentioned in six of the songs- and they scorn wimps who can't handle at least 20 pints of the muck (check "Boddies" and "20 Pints").

Women are a smaller side-issue. Rudely referred to as "crack", the Lads constantly want them ("We're the lads from Macc, and we want some crack") and they push the theory that women should be seen, laid and not heard ("Do You Love Me?").

They also hate homosexuals. "Now He's A Poof" is probably the most lewd, offensive, derogative and vicious song I've ever heard, shaking and shocking normal acceptable values, let alone crucifying pop sensibility (over-used, meaningless phrases of the year, part 42).

Quite frankly, I didn't want to put another tape on once I'd heard The Lads. They're so powerful, confident, cock-sure and brazen that nearly all the other demos paled into insignificance.

I don't agree with any of the band's views, but seen simply as fun, drinking, good-time music, the lads from Macc are champion- Peelie take note. More power to their elbows.

No London dates at present, but some gigs in their local area. Ay up, get down and Boddie.