Misery loves a decent chorus. The Cases need an alibi.

The Cases are possibly the most unlucky-in-love group of young men in Britain.

Every song seems to arrive carrying another tale of lost love, unrequited feelings or being kicked while you’re already emotionally horizontal. Their Mr Penny EP even charted the various stages of a breakup from beginning to end.

These are torch songs for the indie generation.

And it really works.

The Preston four-piece have rapidly moved from the chasing pack of indie hopefuls towards something altogether bigger. Although, given the increasingly packed shows and growing crowds, they’re already a reasonably big thing anyway.

Alibis takes their stock-in-trade – chiming guitars, singalong choruses, heartbroken lyrics and an unashamed pop sensibility – and heads off somewhere new with it.

This time there’s a Northern Soul pulse underneath everything. The beat skips along, the guitars sparkle and the whole thing possesses an infectious groove that makes emotional disappointment sound suspiciously like a good night out. There’s even some charmingly self-conscious dancing in the video.

Then comes the chorus.

Big. Hands in the air. Another romantic disaster suddenly becomes something several thousand people could happily shout together in a field.

Perhaps that’s where The Cases are getting particularly good. The songs are personal without becoming introspective. Heartbreak isn’t something to sit alone contemplating; it’s something to turn into three minutes of pop music and throw at a room full of people. Misery loves company. Preferably company with a decent chorus.

Alibis also feels like a noticeably more mature piece of production. There’s more space, more confidence and more willingness to play with rhythm, without sacrificing the immediacy that got them here in the first place. It’s the sound of a band comfortable with where they’ve come from but increasingly curious about where they can go next.

And then it’s gone.

No extended outro. No unnecessary fourth minute. Good pop music understands the importance of leaving early.

Alibis has been and gone in under three minutes, leaving you free to move onto the next song.

Or just play this one again.

Probably the latter.

Heartbreak seems to bring out the best in The Cases.

For the benefit of music, long may their romantic misfortune continue.

Sorry, lads.

The Cases have just finished a successful stint supporting The Molotovs on various dates in the north of England and head to their biggest headline show of their career in Manchester in November, followed by a brief tour.