PULSE (music and more), with Simon Donohue

ESTABLISHED East Lancashire favourites Syndicate have grown up and gone sentimental with their new single.

The Burnley band, better known for their tough sound, were formerly known as Hate Syndicate. But now they have produced a guitar-based, tuneful, love song devoted to the unborn baby of singer and guitar player Damian Manville.

"Invisible Me is a homage to Damian's girlfriend Kelly," said fellow vocalist and bass player Sean Howarth.

"It's about the child which is in her stomach, a love song to the unborn baby."

Musically, the single is also a slight departure from the Syndicate we have come to know.

The band have benefited from the added experience of new member Chris Precious, on drums.

Now, possibly due to a tour with chart band Marion - taking in nine countries and numerous UK dates - their music has become more defined and refreshingly honest.

The band hope that will be reflected on their debut album The Smile Says It All, due to be released in February.

"We're not particularly bothered about any particular styles," said Sean.

"And we're not bothered about what kind of music we write. "We have even written a Northern Soul song.

"We go from one end of the spectrum to the other.

"One song has a waltz tempo and there are a few acoustic numbers.

"The Smile Says It All is a football term which describes the player who attempts to claim a foul.

"When no foul is given you see a beam on his face which says it all.

"That's what the Syndicate are like - cocksure and confident but mischievous rather than nasty."

The band play Colne Municipal Hall On Friday to launch the new single.

It will be the first time they have played so close to home in a long time.

But trips to nine European countries have provided them with a new confidence and understanding of their abilities.

"It was completely different to England," said Sean.

"They appreciate music without having to be told it's good. They had never heard of us. They didn't have a clue who we were, but they liked us for our music and the way we put it across. "At one gig in Italy, Marion couldn't do the show so we had to stand in for them. We played an hour set and then a half-hour encore."

Syndicate have been around for a long time but now believe they are finally on the brink of big things.

Sean says the current line-up is the best ever and that all the bad elements have been expelled.

Two "silent" members, sound producer Nick Holt and keyboard player Ed McCullock, have been drafted in to add a fuller sound. Things seem to be taking off.

"It just all comes with age, "Sean said. "We have grown up a bit.

"You can't constantly play the same stuff.

"We went to see the recent Milltown Brothers and that was a real nostalgia trip for us.

"It's about time that people took notice of music in East Lancashire but I'm not saying it will be us who will make people sit up and listen.

"Element are good and The Cornerstones have a big following.

"We would like to make it around here but even more so on a larger scale across the country."

Invisible Me is out on the Burnley-based Sticky Label on Monday, October 14.

See gigs for details of Colne Municipal Hall date.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.