The more I learn about Myslovitz, the more I am intrigued by this Polish band. When I first popped my copy of ?Korova Milky Bar? into the CD shuttle, I imagined them to be some new, young hopefuls who?d happened to be at the right place at the right time, clinching themselves a record deal with a big label in the process.

And while I clearly knew nothing about Myslowitz, I did take an instant liking to them and their dreamy pop sound that?s reminiscent of some alternative stuff from the Eighties ? a little Joy Division, but lighter, sweeter, with a hint of The Beatles thrown in for good measure. Or something like that.

In restrospect, my ignorance can perhaps be forgiven ? a trawl through the Internet revealed precious little about Myslowitz. Well, in English at any rate. There are countless fan clubs and the like? in Polish? and let?s just say my grasp on Eastern European languages leaves much to be desired. Luckily, I came across one or two sites that had been carefully translated from Polish to English, and thus began to emerge a less distorted picture of this band that hails from the town of Myslowice in Poland.

What I?ve subsequently discovered is that ?Korova Milky Bar? is not their debut album, but their debut English album! Here again, it?s been carefully translated from Polish to English, which explains a certain charm about their lyrics, which are, at any rate, tinged with wistfulness, earnestness and melancholic yearning.

The original ?Korova Milky Bar? was released in 2002, and was the band?s fifth album ? quite the phenomenon in Poland and thereabout, they?ve even released a greatest hits album! For the last few years, Myslowitz has won all sorts of accolades, including best Polish band by MTV Europe. They?ve recently completed a tour - MTV Europe's 'Road To Edinburgh' - with Travis and Skin. I expect world domination is around the corner!

It hasn?t always been plain sailing for this band, as some of the accounts I?ve read expressed ? a ?tour? of the USA translated into a single gig at a Polish disco in New Jersey, where the patrons were more interested in drinking and smoking than paying much attention to singer Artur Rojek and the other band members? efforts on stage.

The band was formed in 1992 as The Freshmen (after the American movie) by university student Artur ? who says his influences then were British groups Ride, Stone Roses, My Bloody Valentine and the Housemartins - and his friend Wojtek Powaga. With other members who came and went, they performed at several local gigs before changing their name to Myslovitz. They only started to get noticed after winning the "Mokotow" festival, gaining a contract that obliged them to record and release three albums on a small label. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1995, with the help of Manchester-born producer Ian Harris, responsible for the live sounds of Joy Division, UK Subs, New Order and The Exploited!

Over a decade later, Myslowitz appears to be gaining the recognition it so obviously deserves. If you come across ?Korova Milky Bar? on the shelves of your local CD store, don?t dismiss it as some obscure title that?s bound to end up in the bargain bin within the month ? it?s getting fantastic feedback across the globe, as it should, and once you give it a listen you?ll see why too.