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Music has a cycle, every few years there comes a glutton of brilliant new bands and then comes a drought – thankfully at the moment we seem to be experiencing the former. 2005 was no doubt a great year for new bands but in Gigwise’s eyes 2006 looks set to eclipse it with a host of acts that we’re getting ridiculously excited about. Therefore, we’ve put our collective heads together to come up with our top tips for the next twelve months.
What follows is a list of our top ten predictions for 2006 plus a whole bunch of other bands that we’re creaming our proverbial pants over. Simply click on the names of the band to check them out for yourselves.
The Automatic
In 2005 the plan for The Automatic was simply to get signed, they achieved that. In 2006 they will no doubt be huge after garnering a host of rave reviews for their frenetic live shows since putting pen to paper with B-Unique in July. Their combination of crunching indie riffs, shouty, duelling vocals and a whole load of electro beats takes what Test Icicles laid down and hones it into perfect refined pop with a dash of their own unique style. They were hailed as the best thing by miles at In The City with more evidence of their ensuing popularity coming in the form of the indie disco destroying limited edition single ‘Recover’.
The Spinto Band
After spending eight years producing seven self released albums (They’ve been playing since they were fourteen and have only just finished college!) The Spinto Band probably wouldn’t exactly class themselves as a new band. However, the buzz surrounding their first long player on Bar None Records ‘Nice And Nicely Done’ has grown continuously since its release in the US and it looks set to launch these boys from the Mississippi Delta into a whole new stratosphere. Think the quirkiness of The Flaming Lips and a slice of Pavement interjected with the straight lines of The Strokes and your just about on the button.
Boy Kill Boy
Having played their first gig just over twelve months ago Boy Kill Boy went on to play some rapturously received sets at this years Leeds/Reading Festival and backed them up with the release of single ‘Civil Sin’ via Fierce Panda. Sweeping through grandiose melodies with a deadpan delivery they are set to challenge Editors for their crown of ’Kings of the Morose’ and plough the same epic line. Their latest single release ‘Back Again’ is due this month on Vertigo and looks set to cement their place amongst the hottest new acts of 2006 ahead of their highly anticipated debut album which is due out in May.
The Long Blondes
One of the greatest mysteries of 2005 is without doubt why The Long Blondes are still without a record deal. In the past twelve months these Sheffield lads and lasses fronted by the Charity shop obsessed Kate Jackson have garnered a whole host of fans with their effortless cool and 50’s film noir style, supported fellow steel city idols Artic Monkeys and been widely touted as the best unsigned band in the UK. Surely 2006 will see them fulfil the promise of singles such as ‘Separated By Motorways’ and dance floor favourite ‘Giddy Stratospheres‘, sign on the dotted line and become a firm favourite amongst music lovers everywhere.
Wolf And Cub
Australia doesn’t exactly have the greatest of records in producing critically acclaimed bands, 2006 could change all that. Heading the pack are Adelaide’s Wolf And Cub who signed to 4AD in 2005, and are shaping up to be one of the most exciting prospects of 2006. Their Paul Epworth produced single ‘Thousand Cuts’ showcased a band full of promise kicking out incessant, wiry guitars that seethed with aggressive energy and attitude, while mainly instrumental B-side ‘Intro’ showed a brooding maturity and deft understanding of quiet and loud. Its not often that Gigwise gets this excited about a band after one single, Wolf And Cub are that band.
The Maccabees
Hailing from South London but based in Brighton five piece The Maccabees have surged into the consciousness with the backing of Steve Lamacq and have become firm favourites amongst music lovers in the know everywhere with their urgent and exuberant clatter. If you don’t know them now you soon will do. Songs such as ‘Lego’ and ‘X-Ray’ show a razor sharpe edge and the jerking motions of Gang of Four laced with the ease and intelligence of ‘Bizarro’ era Wedding Present, add to that some stunning live shows and it seems they are destined for much bigger things.
Guillemots
Named after a cliff-dwelling bird that featured in a song written Fyfe Hutchins when he was five years old, Guillemots are purveyors of quirky europhic pop that’s full of tactile broken rhythms with the mercurial talents of the aforementioned Hutchins leading the way with a little help from Aristazabal Hawkes on double bass. Gigwise was blown away by their performance at In The City and earmarked them as ones to watch. They then went on to release the wonderful ‘Trains To Brazil’ and to support Rufus Wainright on his UK tour, picking up new admirers at every stop. Their new single ‘We’re Here’ on Fantastic Plastic will gain them even more.
Good Shoes
North London quartet Good Shoes, currently signed to Brille Records, write songs about bandmates drinking too much, throwing up and breaking hearts while soundtracking these stories with intricate staccato riffs and danceable indie beats ala a rough around the edges mixture of Maximo Park and The Futureheads. After some support slots in January and February they are due to begin their first ever UK headline tour in Marc and release their next single ‘We Are Not The Same’, in Gigwise’s view by the end of those gigs a lot of people will be talking them up as the ‘next big things’.
Two Gallants
San Franciscan duo Adam Stephens and Tyson Vogel make up Two Gallants, their music sweeps from crushing garage rock to the most beautiful yet dark and sparse country tinged epics, enhanced by the gravelly vocals of Stephens. Having released their debut album ‘The Throes’ in America last year they signed to Saddle Creek after a much hailed performance at SXSW. Further shows at the Leeds/reading weekend confirmed the potential. Their second offering ‘What The Toll Tells’ arrives this February and is a truly monumental piece of work with the nine minute long ‘Waves of Grain’ and first single ‘Las Cruces Jail’ standing out.
iForward Russia!
When Gigwise first reviewed Leeds’ iForward Russia! in 2004 we noted the potential amidst the barrage of noise and sounds that made their set somewhat chaotic. Since then they have refined their sound and found their place and 2006 they are heading towards the realisation of that initial spark we saw. With striking live sets featuring the exhaustive performances of Tom Woodhead encapsulating their mix of post hardcore riffs and swirling pop hooks perfectly, they have captured the hearts of many gig goers in the last year. With single ‘Twelve’ out this month and a debut album due shortly the next twelve months are certain to hold great things for them.
This top ten was whittled down from over fifty names, with a veritable plethora of other possibilities which are whetting Gigwise’s appetite at the moment missing out, here's a run down of just a few of them...
Acts like Kubichek!, This Et Al, Larrikin Love, Humanzi, Help! She Can’t Swim, Broken Social Scene, The Crimea, Jamie T, The Beautiful New Born Children and Dartz! all look to be set for exciting times in the next twelve months and they’re not alone. Following Wolf And Cub over from the land Down Under are Damn Arms, who support Test Icicles this month,Wolfmother and The Scare.
Early material from bands such as Kalev, The Neon Plastix, We Start Fires, Crosbi and Polytechnic has really impressed while two band who tour together in the next few weeks, Tera Tora and Blood Red Shoes, are exciting us as are Oxford quintet Foals who look a raw yet challenging prospect. Other bands that look set to break include The Ivories, Redcarsgofaster, Battle, Dead! Dead! Dead! , Duels, iLiKETRAiNS, Rumble Strips, The Maybes?, ShitDisco, Louie and The Mules.
From the US, the barely out of high school Be Your Own Pet and The Decemberists look set to build on their cult followings and gain wider recognition and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, while probably being over hyped, are destined for good things. One other from America band to look out for is current New Orleans buzz band World Leader Pretend, who are currently taking adavantage of internet in the same vane as CYHSY.
As you can see 2006 looks like a great year for new music! We're gonna be busy!
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