AT the moment, it feels like Grand Central might be the only people making music in Manchester. If the last couple of years had seen a withdrawal of the zeitgeist from their effortlessly smooth doorstep, the loose collective have come back fighting.

With Riton and last month's birthday bash at Sankeys keeping the home fires burning, it's time for the big boys to come out to play.

Since the early, sparse shows around the time of Northern Sulphuric Soul, Mark Rae and Steve Christian have forged an organic live experience that has grown more seductive with every show at the Ritz (by now, their spiritual home).

And while rumours of an appearance from Big Bobby Womack might have taken optimism to psychotic extremes, there's still a menu of guests that boasts Fingathing, Supernatural and Veba.

The album Sleepwalking might have displayed the odd ambient leaning, but for booty shaking seduction, we might refer to their former single: It ain't nothing like Hip Hop music.

It's probably better.

Thursday, Ritz, £12.50

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