Electro Odd-Sock Pop-Rock's Finest: Late of the Pier

With the burst of the so called new rave movement last year, it was only a matter of time until the electro electricity would strike a chord and churn out an endless supply of bands to mark a new chapter.  And there’s always a moment when you wonder which ones will actually stick around and craft a new niche in the market, rather than disappearing into obscurity. Late Of The Pier, with their edgy, synthesized clappy sound have often been tarnished with this label, but are they aiming to be the next Klaxons? Gigwise catches up with Andrew Faley from the four piece outfit and he’s only too quick to nip the idea in the bud; “We were doing what we’re doing before Klaxons even came out. We’re electronic odd-sock pop-rock”

With influences ranging from jazz to hip hop to punk and obscure 60s rock n roll, it’s a safe bet that this is a band that don’t want to be pigeon holed too quickly. What does make Late of the Pier so special is the fact that they’ve all been friends since babies, rarely argue and just want to make music together. Far from your average indie band who meet at university, then. And that’s how simple it was. “We were just four kids who thought ‘fuck it lets make music.’ Sam (Eastgate) was very musically inclined and Ross (Dawson) already played drums. The rest of us just picked up instruments and started playing”

Did they have a lot of support in making the band? “Well our friends didn’t really listen to us. But now we get old mates ringing us up or people thinking they like it then going ‘oh I used to know them.’ Our parents weren’t really up for it at first either, saying ‘go to Uni and get a job’, but now everyone’s supporting us” Intrinsic to their independent nature, Faley tells us that they didn’t ever go to any music lessons, but taught themselves how to play.  A very natural bunch then with a modest motto of “whatever happens, happens”

Despite their modest, but growing reputation, we put it to Faley whether they have big aspirations: “There’s no half heartedness, we’re playing pop that people used to stay away from but now we’re playing it and it feels good. Maybe by the fifth or sixth album we’ll be world dominating.” The fact is though the world hasn’t even seen their first album. Is it a case of more words than action? Well we’ll soon find out mid next year, which is the planned release of the album, but what we do know is it will feature the mighty Erol Alkan. It’s an exciting time for them, one day jamming in a bedroom; to deciding who to work with on their debut “We’d love to do something with Metronomy too,” Faley explains.

We ask him about the direction the album is taking: “We’ll incorporate all our many different styles and genres. It’ll have a lot of the songs we play at gigs but new songs as well… (laughs)… I actually had a dream that The Avalanches saw us and said they really liked how our album sounded like something they did”  So what will their essential tools of their trade be? “Basically synthesizers and a lot of amps to create waves in the sound.”