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Mani from The Stone Roses once claimed that his band were only as good as they were because they are Thatcher’s children. They had no option other than to learn an instrument in hope of gaining some fame and, equally, having their wallets gain a bit of weight.
To be fair, musicians may think differently now, it may not be as rough as it was back then. But there is a feeling of similar sentiment. The strong array of bands out there at the moment could be put down to the disillusionment with the government. Are musicians now Cameron’s children? Possibly.
Back in the 90s British music was incredible, and whilst the revivalists continue, you do have to beg the question, are bands becoming so good, because they may as well be poor doing something they love? But one thing is sure, there are bands out there at the moment flying the flag for English music, and doing so with such quality, talent and fervour, it’s simply too hard to ignore them. Here are ten bands, that you may not have heard of, but probably will do in the near future.
SPQR
Coming from Liverpool, you’d be right to sigh and think “oh not another merseybeat act”. But with SPQR it couldn’t be further away from that very presumption. The three-piece band play what is in essence punk but mixed with an art-rock ethic. They aren’t a simple punk-rock outfit. Live they don’t hold back either, bring an explosive dynamic on stage, with frontman Peter Harrison being known to release his emotions in one way or another.
Mouses
Mouses are arguably going to be one of the next big new bands. Their oddly ferocious sound coming from a small two-piece outfit has already gained plaudits from critics and music fans alike. Mouses come from a North-East music scene that is maturing into what could be the next B-Town. But for us, they are the stand-out act. Playing what could be likened to those early White Stripes records on speed, Mouses aren’t a band that hold back, nor are they a band that seem to be slowing down. Their eponymous debut album hits the shelves on the 23 September.
COLOUR
Out of the depths of thrown away Peter Gabriel records and 80s music of the like come COLOUR. Their sun-drenched guitars and somewhat deeper-than-the-depths of the ocean lyricism is what makes them such a fascinating listen. There is also an attention to detail that is evident in their recordings that accentuates their star spangled sound. They are most certainly for fans of the 80s.
PLAZA
Branding themselves as a post-indie band has put PLAZA amongst a load of other obscurities. But as another promising band coming out of Newcastle, the hype around them from a grassroots level is there. In fact, it would appear that their supposed rivals can’t recommend them enough. Regardless though, the bands first single, ‘Totem’, comes in at a startlingly short 1:53, but sums up just about everything fantastic about this band. From the Foals-esque twiddly guitars through to eerie soundscapes and captivating drums, PLAZA are fantastic.
Her’s
Post-punk like you've never heard it before is what Her’s produce. It’s Mac Demarco and Vini Reilly heavy. The youth of today may consider Her’s to be a homage to the Toronto-born troubadour and self-confessed love preacher, but it’s the unmistakable similarities to The Duratti Column that make this band a stand out. They are only a two-piece (not including their drum machine), but still do it all electrically, and have manage to hone their sound by doing so.
Itoldyouiwouldeatyou
Imagine emo meets Blazin’ Squad, and that’s how you get a band like itoldyouiwouldeatyou. Whilst they sound nothing like Mackenzie and co., they come in numbers just as strong. There are at least 100 of them, and they all make fantastic music together. They blur the lines between introvert indie and the newly reformed emo genre. Their latest track, ‘Get Out Of Bed’, has hit the ground running and has been seen just about everywhere, for good reason too.
Lunar Quiet
Doom impending guitars and pensive beats are the order of the day when it comes to flicking on Brighton’s Lunar Quiet. Disgustingly dark, and rather loud, the band feel like My Bloody Valentine if they weren’t kept so happy with all the hallucinogenics. They aren’t an immediate favourite, but have a sound that is quite persuasive, and equally intrusive. It’s an existential experience, and one that has you coming back for more. Check out their impressive track, ‘Ambien’.
Sahara
If it wasn’t Foals, you’d have to question whether this band would exist, but they do. And it’s fantastic. So thanks, Yannis. Like the birth child of Foals and Foster The People, the Basingstoke/ London/ Brighton flitter between happy and sad, serious and unserious. Sahara’s sound is a cauldron of emotion stirred frequently by the impressive turn of phrase of their frontman, Laith Whitwham and those less-than-expected drum fills, the guitar work is more than impressive too.
Young Native
It’s fitting that as Jamie T comes back with his new, heavier sound, a band like Young Native waltz through the closing door with a bunch of samples and can a of Skoll. The London based band make a sound that sounds like Panic Prevention if it was recorded with better gear. The band are pushing the boundaries of the indie genre, and bringing a King Krule-esque twist on a sound that was laying dormant until very recently.
The Orielles
This three-piece coming from what appears to be every northern town that there is create something of a summer-inducing sound. Fitting for those trips to the shop for a bottle of Lucozade the morning after the night before, The Orielles exude a lot of positivity in their sound, and are simply sumptuous. It’s a fantastic mix between a lo-fi ethic and a shoegaze sound that makes this band the joyful lot they are.
