If your haircut has to be carefully manoeuvered through doorways then you are likely to stand out on the streets of Northampton.

"Walking around town I nearly always get various homophobic comments and things like 'nice barnet'," confirms guitarist Lee Irons. "You just think 'yeah, and nice white tracksuit, mate'."

Luckily, however, if you make intelligent yet danceable indie, you're also likely to stand out in a music scene that's looking out for the next Franz Ferdinand and newly re-tuned to the club-bound guitar pop of the Eighties.

The Departure only formed in January but, thanks to their decision to make "guitar-based music that had the excitement of Motown and that was celebratory so you could dance to it", the five-piece are already signed to Polydor on a five-album deal and mid-way through their first headline tour.

Produced by Alan Moulder - the twice Grammy-nominated engineer behind moody alt-rock masterpieces from the likes of My Bloody Valentine - their first single, All Mapped Out, was a cross between New Order and Frankie Goes To Hollywood and hit the Top 30. Steering closer to Joy Division, Be My Enemy will follow on October 18.

"When we're together in the studio or on stage," says singer David Jones, "something undeniable happens".