CAST frontman John Power has a soft spot for his latest support band.

He has described The Burn, from Blackburn, as "a cool bunch of a lads at the start of something new".

Speaking to Pulse after last week's gig in Bristol, he said the first night of their UK tour had been sensational.

The intimate venues and reaction of the crowd reminded him of the time when his band made their first album All Change.

The Scouse quartet have been away for nearly two years and are set to make a dramatic return over the summer.

One of the formative bands of the Britpop movement, they are showcasing their new album, which has provisonally been called Beet Route.

Scheduled for a July release, it will be preceded next month by the single Desert Drought.

Clearly enjoying the chance to return to the live stage, their decison to play smaller venues seems to paying off.

Power said: "We wanted to play venues where we could be really close to the fans. Last night it was packed. There wasn't even a pit and the heat and energy from the crowd was brilliant."

Having spent 14 months writing the new material, Power recruited the help of Tristan Norwell, who's is best know for his work with Talvin Singh and Embrace.

Locking themselves away, they added loops, beats, flutes and bits of brass to the songs."

And he's delighted with the way the fans have reacted to the new stuff.

He said: "The songs fit in really well with the old stuff. It's got the same kinda up vibe we had on the first album. It feels like the start of a new era for us "

Cast play at King George's Hall, Blackburn, tomorrow night with The Burn as support.