Teletext: Combining their early power-pop with the ballsy guitars and wild-eyed look of Brakes, it's free-spirited joy. 8/10.

Visit links for full reviews, there were originally a few more but they're no longer there.

Alternative Nation This is a light and breezy 2 and a half minutes of breezy pop, perfect from a band who come from Brighton. It sounds like it was a track born from sitting on Brighton Beach watching the sun sinking slowly into the sea whilst the soft red light of the last rays of sunshine cannot fail to warm those left on the sands. This is The Beach Boys with a very British electro-pop sound blended in perfectly... The emotional and haunting Blue It Is may be worth tracking down rather than the single itself. It is a beautiful song.

Artrocker "Electric Soft Parade make pleasant, dreamy single" would never make a newspaper headline - because it's bleedin' obvious that these Teenage Fanclub acolytes are going to make something pleasant and dreamy. But if you want something nice to doze to on a summer afternoon, at least you know who to turn to.

Atomic Duster 7/10: Phew, that's a relief, it's NOT a cover of the old Genesis single. In actual fact, it sounds more like Teenage Fanclub doing a version of The Supremes' "Stop! In The Name Of Love" and is suitably lethargic. B-side "Blue It Is" comes over all classical at the beginning and then sounds for all the world like it belongs in the musical canon of Brian Wilson, or perhaps Scott Walker. Moody and atmospheric...

Beat Surrender 3 stars: The Electric Soft Parade are a band that have been criminally ignored for way too long and underrated amongst both music fans and journalists, while less talented but ultimately more fashionable, trendy bands seem to take all the column inches.

Fair play to the Brighton lads though they have kept going where others may have been tempted to throw the towel in. Thankfully their dedication is to our gain as they come back once more with a new album No Need To Be Downhearted gaining some great reviews.

All good albums need good singles and they deliver this with Misunderstanding, a slightly quirky three minute guitar pop song, with the odd slice of psychedelic whooziness thrown in amongst the Teenage Fanclub style harmonies. It's good to have them back, so do your bit, buy the album and keep them interested.

Comfort Comes score 9: "No Need To Be Downhearted" is easily one of the years best albums even still months after its release, I am finding more and more to fall in love with. "Misunderstanding" is a moment of breezy and sunshine pop that is in the middle of a record full of such emotion and feelings. There isn't much else to tell you, pick up the single, pick up the album, the band are rejuvenated and this record is a triumph.

Glasswerk Electric Soft Parade have a really good sound. It's the sort of music you'd put on if you were driving up the west coast of America on a beautiful summer evening in your convertible, for some reason.

It's a crisp and harmonious recording with light drums and funky guitars... There is a dexterity and depth to the music which lends it a certain class. A large range of instruments are used to give Misunderstanding a grand and symphonic sound which would be great to see and hear live... In short, Misunderstanding has intelligence, a nostalgic sense of the song that suggests real talent in its creators.

Blue It Is, the second track from the release, is another quite lovely specimen with the same sort of afterparty acoustic vibe that Simon and Garfunkel used to generate so brilliantly.

icScotland 'Blue it is' accompanies this release and is actually a surprisingly darker song, very much in contrast to 'Misunderstanding'. This song has Italian influences written all over it and wouldn't be out of place in a modern day re-make of The Godfather. All in all, a good single release from The Electric Soft Parade, with two very different songs from a very diverse band.

Indie London Single Of The Week: 4.5 out of 5. Brighton's Electric Soft Parade provide a timely reminder of why they were once considered the new kings of indie-influenced electro-pop. Misunderstanding is a shimmering, feelgood piece of songwriting that's built around prog-laced hooks and an infectious sense of style. At two and a half minutes, it's a breezy anthem in waiting that's perfect for playing loud and free on a hot summer's day. The vocal layering is, at times, reminiscent of Brian Wilson and co, while the laidback chorus is superbly delivered to ensure maximum satisfaction. The cute little central stop-start riff even flirts with Weezer's Island In The Sun, or am I misunderstood? Nevertheless, it's a welcome return to form for the Electric Soft Parade that ought to be embraced by a wide listener base.

Is This Music 4 stars: Thomas and Alex return with another slice of sweet melodious fun from their latest, and by far their best album, 'No Need to be Downhearted'. It's a two and half minute jaunt that bops along with glee whilst knowingly giving nods to Weezer and Teenage Fanclub on the way. Perfect for the summer months, there's not one bit of fat on it, mainly due to the fact they've cut out the psychedelic break that resides on the album version. Bottom line; great song, great album, buy it!

Lick Online "Blue It Is": On first listen to this haunting song, I wasn't paying attention and found myself thinking, "Now why would a band who can write such stylish melancholy as this hide it away as track 2? It's almost as good as "Breakfast" by The Associates". Then I bothered to look at the sleeve and, of course, it is indeed a cover of a Billy MacKenzie song. Now that's the sort of music that is going to set my musical world alight.

Music News 5 stars: A cracking song that is clean and clear with a searing 60's influenced US west coast chorus that beautifully dominates. The opening chirpy guitar sets the tone for an ultra infectious slice of sunny jangly indie pop.

Electric Soft Parade have produced many glorious moments, with Misunderstanding hitting a very high mark indeed. So much so its on continuous loop while I'm tapping at the keys, and each time the chorus hits with fresh, affecting emotion.

The single comes with a cover of the late Billy MacKenzie's heart wrenching Blue It Is, as performed at a tribute night for the ex Associates singer. I'll say it again, a cracking song.

MusicOMH A lovely slice of prog-brushed soft rock designed for a summer evening on a comfortably pebbly beach. This is, of course, what Alex and Thomas White do best.

What they do second best is adore Billy MacKenzie, former lead singer of The Associates, and strive to keep his music in the public consciousness. They took part in a tribute concert to mark what would have been his 50th birthday (he committed suicide in 1997) earlier this year, and it is from here that many listeners will know Blue It Is, the MacKenzie track they have chosen to record as Misunderstanding's B-side.

It's on this track that ESP really shine. This is a truly beautiful interpretation of his song, the original version of which was released posthumously. The fact that ESP manage to do justice to a cover of a song by a singer whose vocal range was beyond even the comprehension of most acts completely overshadows the title track. Job done.

Stuff.tv Download Of The Week: Kids of the Britpop era, rejoice! Brighton's ESP are keeping it alive and well.

One band that's never felt the need to bow to mainstream pressure (and has stayed close to my heart as a result) is Brighton's brotherly combo, The Electric Soft Parade. While some bands unashamedly switch styles and follow short-lived trends in pursuit of a hit, ESP have spent the last five years being shunned and ignored in favour of more fashionable bands with more headline grabbing potential, although not for the quality of their songs.

The White brothers' latest EP, Misunderstanding, sees them hitting the guitar pop highs of their debut album, Holes In The Wall. It's two parts Britpop with one part Weezer's Island In the Sun and a sprinkling of Teenage Fanclub and if this can't summon summer, nothing can.

Subba Cultcha Jangly summer pop delivered with real passion, you can't argue with class (especially the War Of The Worlds-like solo)

The Fugitive Motel 5.1 / 6: Misunderstanding is a perfectly crafted, pleasantly relaxed track. It's clear not much has changed in the ESP camp, certainly no criticism as their sound has been missed by many in recent years. Flipside Blue It Is is a darker and more melancholy effort, an effective contrast to its A-side counterpart; the sort of song that wouldn't sound out of place on the soundtrack to an old black and white French film. Short but sweet, these two tracks will have you reaching for those old ESP albums and excitedly anticipating what's to come.

The Last Broadcast After the excitement of their debut, 'Holes In The Wall', ESP never quite took off as much as they deserved to, but they have not been perturbed and continue to roll out music that is of a consistent quality, ever in search of a telling tune instead of concerning themselves with commercial approval.

'Misunderstanding' has many of the qualities that always made their slower songs so gratifying - the White brothers' pleasantly soft vocals, the interplay of light drumming and crisp rocky guitar. Understatement is written through this like a stick of rock from their home city of Brighton, but the tune works its charms slowly and over a long period of time, seducing you until you are brought around.

The Line Of Best Fit Riding off the back of the critical acclaim that followed the release of Electric Soft Parade’s latest album No Need To Be Downhearted the brothers White release Misunderstanding. A two and a half minute slice of guitar led pop. These boys have always had the knack of writing a catchy hook, and they are in their absolute element here. Think Island In The Sun by Weezer mixed with a motown inspired melody and you’d be on the right track. Great stuff.

The Sun Hot Tracks: 3.5 stars: click to see scan.