Late Of The Pier’s eagerly awaited, Erol Alkan-produced debut album promises to be one of the stand-out records of 2008. The concept doesn’t exactly inspire - synth heavy disco rock, replete with indulgent prog rock solos – considering the market is already saturated with 80s influenced ‘indie’ groups.
However, the boys from Castle Donnington have that essential quality required in a band - they actually make you want to get up and bop. Since forming in 2003, Samuel Eastgate, Andrew Faley, Sam Potter and Ross Dawson have generated a devout teenage following after delivering explosive performances at a series of all-ages gigs. With around 40,000 friends on Facebook, the commercial success of their first offering, Fantasy Black Channel is all but assured when it is released on August 11th through Parlophone records.
One could be forgiven for thinking that Late Of The Pier are simply trying to catch the electro-indie gravy train set in motion by the Klaxons. Since winning the Mercury music prize last year, the Klaxons have given the greenlight to a profusion of electro-lite guitar bands content to produce music which has been labelled by critics as tepid and tedious ‘poly-filler’.
Late Of The Pier need have no such worries. Reminiscent of Gary Numan and Roxy Music, they are a shining example of retro glam rock done well- tipping their hats to their predecessors without simply aping them.
The song that caught my ear is debut single Space And The Woods and is available on iTunes. It wouldn’t be out of place on the soundtrack to a future sci-fi film, probably involving some sort of choreographed phaser gun shootout/hover car chase.
After appearing at Summer Sonic in Osaka, Japan, Late Of The Pier will be playing at Leeds and Reading festivals, Creamfields and Bestival.
Check out their Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/lateofthepier
However, the boys from Castle Donnington have that essential quality required in a band - they actually make you want to get up and bop. Since forming in 2003, Samuel Eastgate, Andrew Faley, Sam Potter and Ross Dawson have generated a devout teenage following after delivering explosive performances at a series of all-ages gigs. With around 40,000 friends on Facebook, the commercial success of their first offering, Fantasy Black Channel is all but assured when it is released on August 11th through Parlophone records.
One could be forgiven for thinking that Late Of The Pier are simply trying to catch the electro-indie gravy train set in motion by the Klaxons. Since winning the Mercury music prize last year, the Klaxons have given the greenlight to a profusion of electro-lite guitar bands content to produce music which has been labelled by critics as tepid and tedious ‘poly-filler’.
Late Of The Pier need have no such worries. Reminiscent of Gary Numan and Roxy Music, they are a shining example of retro glam rock done well- tipping their hats to their predecessors without simply aping them.
The song that caught my ear is debut single Space And The Woods and is available on iTunes. It wouldn’t be out of place on the soundtrack to a future sci-fi film, probably involving some sort of choreographed phaser gun shootout/hover car chase.
After appearing at Summer Sonic in Osaka, Japan, Late Of The Pier will be playing at Leeds and Reading festivals, Creamfields and Bestival.
Check out their Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/lateofthepier
