FORMER Creation Records boss Alan McGee recently dubbed Coldplay's brand of melodic rock as "bedwetters' music."

But likeable frontman Chris Martin and his band don't suffer from an image problem, even if the critics have a problem with their image.

How dare this bunch of twentysomethings write proper slow songs with conventional verses in this day and age? It simply isn't done.

Their debut album Parachutes, which went platinum within four weeks of release, contains songs of such poise and conviction, it's hard to imagine it's their first-ever release.

But judging by the record sales and the wave of enthusiasm which greeted this performance at Manchester Academy -- which forms part of their 17-gig mini-tour -- they have struck a chord with the man on the street.

Initially labelled as Radiohead impersonators and more recently the new Travis, the former University College of London students are starting to strike out in their own right.

And their key weapon is the songs -- the way they build from a simple acoustic guitar or piano beginning into a multi-layered sound supplemented by the atmospheric riffs of guitarist John Buckland. It's a winning formula which perfectly captures the growing moodiness in British pop, from the chugging guitar and wistful acoustic verse of Yellow to the piano riffs of the spine-tingling Trouble.

But don't expect them to have you up and dancing, it's more the type of sound reserved for quiet contemplation behind closed doors.

Nevertheless, these guys are great in the flesh and rarely have guitars ever sounded so smooth.