Vera - The Crow Trap

If The Shadow Line represents the current glossy urban edge of contemporary crime drama on the TV at the moment, with Exile standing as a siphon in between, then Vera represents the far reaches of crime drama 'going rural'.

With its Geordie accents and what seems like a perpetual tone of grey washed across the entire show, Vera is a thriller with a difference. It has brains, for sure, but it also has heart - though you wouldn't expect anything else from a show where the lead character drives a battered fifty year old Land Rover. It's this rustic, grim feel that defines Vera - both show and character.

Vera, played by the delightful Brenda Blethyn, is no maverick London city slicker copper. In many ways, you almost forget she is in fact a member of the law. Because she's more than that, she's a person, and this is a drama defined by persona.

Maybe it's those Geordie accents, so open and telling, or maybe it's the bleak, rainy moors of Northumbria; but there's something here that makes you just want to pour every inch of your heart into this show and immerse yourself in the richness that has clearly been lavished on its creation.

This isn't an expensive looking show, but it wears its apparel well - it feels genuine, believable - yet also tinged with a vague hint of the fantastical too. And it was this sense that was emphasised in the latest episode, The Crow Trap. The plot hinging around a quarry encroaching on old, sacred land; this story felt heaped in mystery of more than one kind.

As you'd expect from any ITV thriller, there were twists and red herrings aplenty, but there were also those achingly beautiful shots of the haunting countryside stretching away into the distance too. There were the chilling cries of crows, bringing with them the morbid tang of death.

Atmosphere. Vera is drenched in it. And standing in a two hour slot as the show does, it's given the luxury of being able to develop that atmosphere at its own pace. That extended time slot is required; without it you feel the show would struggle to establish itself either way - the pacing would collapse in a rush to satisfy both the show's plot and it's look.

Instead, we have something that we sit down to and can properly grow with - as Vera uncovers an ever increasing share of clues, we find ourselves frantically searching for our own solutions to the murder. But of course, she gets there first. Because that's who Vera is. And she's very, very good.

Noah and the Whale - Tonight's The Kind Of Night

The success of Noah and The Whale's L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. (God bless the fact you can copy and paste track names from iTunes) did so well came as a surprise and joy for me. In its majestic, waltz like splendour, it saw a band hitting their stride; the dream scenario for any band launching their latest album. Featuring on ITV's Dancing on Ice, it was swiftly propelled ever higher in the charts and even ended up on a Now That's What I Call Music - surely the ultimate accolade for any song, eh?

L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. wasn't just Noah and the Whale producing a good track, it was the band marking out their place in the public awareness - it was the kind of record that could sell out a venue off its own back. The gateway was open then for a follow-up single to be equally well received.

Tonight's The Kind of Night then represents a the ride outwards through those gates to both corral yet more new fans to the band's cause and to say to those new to the cause 'Welcome, one and all - you're going to enjoy this...'. It's a crowd-pleaser at heart, a notion that conjures up visions of cheesy rock ballads - but it needn't be seen as such a dirty phrase. For Tonight's The Kind of Night, in its big, bouncy piano chords, jaunty chorus and soulful backing vocals, is a perfect example of a song doing exactly what its title says. Imagine the scene; a booze-laden New Year's Eve party, lots of friends and relatives around, champagne flowing freely - this is the song that will be playing on the stereo.

And just like L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N., the song reverberates in its own inherent classiness and charm. When the band first charted with 5 Years Time back in 2008, you'd scarce believe they could transform from that frisky campfire melody type stuff to the sweeping Deacon-Blue-esque anthems like Tonight's The Kind Of Night. And it's a sound that fits them like a glove. Noah and the Whale are the suave, good-looking best friend we all have. And just for tonight, they're letting us in on all the tricks of their trade. And boy does it sound good.

Tonight's The Kind Of Night is released on May 16th.