THERE’S no way you’ll come away from One Night Only’s second album feeling in need of a wash. Spotless in texture, it’s both a tribute to windswept Eighties’ synth-pop and a showcase of the influence of the Helmsley rockers’ labelmates The Killers on their approach.

But when they’re battling against heavyweight rivals for attention, can their eponymous follow-up stand the heat?

As far as proficiency goes, no problem. ONO’s soundscapes are lush and echoey, the pace barely relents in a headlong rush of tales of fame dreams and fading love, and frontman George Craig’s vocals have become much more strident than they were on the band’s debut. The likes of opening single Say You Don’t Want It (number 23 this week), the lighters-aloft Chemistry, the Keane-esque Nothing Left and the Ultravox-Snow Patrol hybrid of Never Be The Same prove One Night Only’s songwriting is starting to grow.

But for all the effort and passion, it’s ultimately an album which fails to excite in the way One Night Only desperately want it to. There’s no particular stand-out track, their approach lacks variety, and while the pieces are in place, they add up to an unsatisfying whole. And lyrically, the band just don’t bring enough to the table.

Even when The Killers are coming up with complete nonsense, their stories intrigue and demand further scrutiny, whereas One Night Only’s themes are almost incidental.

Two albums in, One Night Only are still showing promise without indicating they can cement a place. Their next album may define them. And it’s likely to need a bit more grit to go with producer Ed Buller’s gloss.

* One Night Only play the Festival Republic Stage at the Leeds Festival, Bramham Park, tomorrow.