Introducing...Post War Years

They might look like four guys who love nothing more than popping round to their Mum’s house for a roast dinner every Sunday but Post War Years are a complex bunch. Initially from Leamington Spa – a quaint town in the middle of England that boasts, well, that’s it really – Simon, Henry, Tom and Fred now inhabit a Russian Social Club-cum-hairdressers in the east end of London. From within its four walls – assuming, of course, that it’s structurally sound – the band make music that’s powered by “ambience and harmonised bass guitars” and topped off with the occasional “6-string”. Let’s not forget the beat either, which is the central foundation to any Post War Years song.

“There’s a heavy focus on beats,” explains Tom. “A Post War Years song doesn’t make it through the net unless it’s been given the best beat Fred can conjure up.”

Post War Years aren’t new to Gigwise. Our ears first pricked up last summer when an ominous email arrived from someone professing to be their number one fan. In it – when we weren’t being told that they were “THE BEST BAND EVA!!!” – was a link to three of their songs. One of which, ‘The Black Morning’, comprehensively stood out, thanks to its lucid piano and throbbing bassline. Oh yeah, and those beats they’re always going on about.

Nine months on, Gigwise wasn’t surprised to hear that the band were shooting a video for the song – which is released as their debut single on May 12th – and g.phped the opportunity to take a look behind-the-scenes and fire three questions that will tell you everything you need to know about Post War Years.

Can you just tell Gigwise readers a bit about how you got together?

“Simon fronted a band that was looking for a guitarist but they accidentally invited me and Henry to the same rehearsal. They were too embarrassed to tell one of us to go away, eventually the guy on bass left and took two of my strings with him. We then (mis)spent our youth writing oasis inspired indie-pop, with a chap called Matt on drums (who now plays in a wicked band called Akeal). Matt left, and we found Fred in the woods and showed him the wonders of modern society. In return he agreed to impart his knowledge of the rhythm of the jungle. Jungle is massive.”

Your sound draws in a number of different electronic influences – which acts have been your biggest inspiration?

“We all draw on different influences, but I think Tom Vek was the first collective influence. Also Clor and Bjork. More recently loving Jamie Lidell, Battles, Plugs, James Yull, Late of the Pier - there’s loads of good stuff going on at the minute.”

And so to the video, which was directed by Christian Anderson-Ramshall – “a legend” – in an underground cave. Like the lyrics in ‘The Black Morning’, the dark underworld conjures up images of insomnia and “that twilight time of day when you feel like you’re the only person awake.”

We think it’s rather good. You can check out all the behind-the-scenes action from the shoot in the mini-gallery below – think of it like the special features that come on DVDs, only without the DVD. Then, take a look at the full thing in all its glory.

For those of you who are as intrigued as us, Post War Years plan on spending the remainder of the year playing festivals (such as The Great Escape in Brighton next month), plenty of gigs and making “a snifter of an album.”

Which will sound like?

“Beats, live samples, lots of bass, soaring melodies, crazy synth lines, confusing bits and lots of ear candy.”

Lovely.

While their name might conjure up an image of the unobtainable– a time when the world really is without conflict – Post War Years, the band, are well within everyone’s reach. Just don’t miss your chance to grab a piece of them while you still can.

Behind-the-scenes with Post War Years...