IT'S SAFE to say that the songwriting skills of Budapest's John Garrison have come a long way since he first attempted to pen a tune.

"I wrote my first song when I was three," he reminisces. "It wasn't very good though, obviously.

"It was a doodle on the family piano and had words about a caterpillar turning into a butterfly!"

Songs about metamorphosis are unlikely to be on the bill at the Joiners on Sunday, where Budapest will be performing tracks from their debut album Too Blind to Hear.

The band, described rather nauseatingly by their PR company as 'Talk Talk swapping tales of love and loss with Coldplay', perform personal songs packed with soaring, wistful vocals.

Budapest's original line-up featured John's friend Mark Walworth on guitar, bassist Adrian Kelley, drummer Paul Possart and Chris Pemberton on keyboards.

Sadly days after the band finished recording their album in July last year, Mark Walworth committed suicide.

It was a huge blow to the band but they decided to carry on, bringing in Matt Parker on guitar and vocals, hoping that if they become successful it will give them the opportunity to give Mark some kind of send off.

Budapest will be joined on Sunday by Plastik and The Taxis.

September 8, The Joiners, Southampton. Performance: 8pm. Tickets: £4. Information: 023 8049 1954.