Music Features

Been Stellar - Live at The Fleece

19th November 2024

On one of the coldest days of the year so far Been Stellar seriously brought the heat to packed out Bristol. Touring the UK in support of their debut album ‘Scream from New York, NY’, the quintet put on a stellar performance at The Fleece. 

Support came from rockers Iota, who whilst not being sonically similar to Been Stellar put in a solid effort in trying to get a mosh pit started despite being first on the bill on a freezing Tuesday night. 

Following them was Irish group Cardinals, with a striking collection of songs the group certainly gained some new fans. There was tambourine shaking to rival Liam Gallagher himself, lilting Irish melodies and even an accordion. Player Finn Manning is by far the youngest person I’ve seen playing the accordion and did a great job of separating the instrument from its village fete connotations. 

By the time Been Stellar emerged the crowd were eager to go. The group consisting of frontman Sam Slocum, guitarists Skyler Knapp and Nando Dale (although missing from this tour), bassist Nico Bernstein and drummer Laila Wayans oozed the essence of their native New York. Dressed in baggy t-shirts, jumpers and hoodies, the group looked like they had been plucked straight from the NY subway. 

Opening with the titular ‘Scream from New York, NY’ I was immediately struck by just how good Slocum’s voice is and how tight the whole band were. It was clear that Been Stellar are a group that have been out touring and not just staying at home relying on streaming figures. Their abrasive grunge tinged indie really shone in person, with energy radiating out of the whole band. 

The group covered the majority of their debut album, cruising through ‘Passing Judgement’ and a reverb laden ‘Start Again’ before launching into fan favourite ‘Manhattan Youth’, with the pulsating rhythms of Wayan’s drumming driving the song forward and really animating the crowd. 

It is with founding members Slocum and Knapp that Been Stellar really find their strength, as Knapp flails around the stage like a man possessed Slocum clings to the microphone, straining every sinew as the raw melancholy, anger, and fear pour out of him. The New Yorkers really give it their all out there on stage, seeing the all encompassing energy and emotion that Been Stellar put into every performance their mammoth tour feels all the more impressive. 

Closing with ‘I Have The Answer’, the band bid adieu to a starstruck Bristol, one thing is for sure, I will be first in line for tickets when they tour again.

14th October 2024

Get to Know Dogsbody

I recently was introduced to Dogsbody, a talented Bristol-based group blending alt rock, jazz, grunge, and more. The band have been playing at venues all over the city and were long listed for the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition earlier this year. Their debut single ‘Let It Die’ is an epic 5 minutes of musical masterpiece, fusing numerous instruments over Mazzy Star style vocals. I caught up with frontwoman Amelia to learn all about the group. 

Hi guys, can you introduce yourselves? 

Hi, my name is Amelia and I’m a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. I sing, play guitar & piano and have been picking up the saxophone recently too. My cousin Oscar (we call him Bambi) is on guitar and vocals and Rainer is on drums. Bambi and Rainer both know each other from back in school ! 

I started Dogsbody in 2023 after a bit of a creative reset - I had always written songs but this time felt different and I suddenly felt like I needed to properly start making real and honest art. Around that time, I took part in a songwriting competition through my university which resulted in us winning a recording session at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios. I asked the guys if they would be up for learning some songs to record. One of those was ‘Let It Die’. We had only rehearsed it a handful of times before doing the live take in the studio, and the rest is history.

What's the inspiration behind your name?

Well, we spent about 6 months trying to come up with a name, and we weren’t really getting anywhere. We even met King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard at a festival once and asked them for ideas. They suggested “Colostomy Bag” but yeah that idea went down the toilet pretty quick haha. 

Bambi actually came up with it after he came back from work one day and said he felt like a bit of a dogsbody. We originally kept it as a placeholder name but it eventually stuck.

How would you describe your sound? 

Our sound is largely influenced by alternative rock, grunge, folk and jazz, but the whole thing is tied together by a love of good songwriting. 

Dogsbody as a project is very emotionally driven and cathartic and often has an atmospheric quality to it. It’s also very raw. Sometimes too raw haha. One analogy that I can think of is that it’s like going to an art gallery, where the space is quiet and intimate, and the loudest thing there is the art itself.

Who are your main influences? 

Artists like Jeff Buckley, Elliott Smith, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, The Beatles, The Pixies, Hendrix, are all hugely inspirational to me, because of their songwriting genius and cultural significance. My favourite artists are the ones who stopped me in my tracks the moment I heard them, and completely changed my life. 

I also love the early underground punk movement —The Fugs, Chocolate Watchband etc—and anti-folk/lofi acts like R. Stevie Moore and Daniel Johnston - stuff that is slightly janky and very DIY but that’s what makes it so special. Jeffrey Lewis is someone I admire greatly, I would urge anyone to go see a Jeff show or buy a comic. 

Growing up I played a lot of jazz, so people like Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan and Winehouse have been big influences. As for current artists I really like Big Thief and King Krule, and I’m a big Kendrick Lamar fan. 

How do you find being a part of the Bristol music scene? Do you have any favourite venues? 

I’m Bristol born and bred, so this city’s music scene has been a huge part of my life. Being part of it feels like being in the middle of something that is constantly evolving, and I’ve definitely grown a lot with it. As a teenager I used to watch a lot of indie gigs at places like Thekla and the Fleece. There’s a real sense of community here, with so many diverse pockets of music. My favourite venue is probably Crofters and also Trinity Centre, and the Beacon, which are amazing spaces.

Let It Die was played on BBC Introducing, what was that experience like hearing your track on the radio? 

That was pretty cool. Hearing something you’ve poured so much of yourself into on a platform like BBC Introducing is quite surreal, but definitely affirming and I’m glad people have connected with it. 

What’s your go to party song to get everyone up and dancing?

We are massive Toots & the Maytals fans so probably Pressure Drop by them ! And literally anything ABBA too, you can’t go wrong with ABBA. 

Who would be your dream artist or band to collaborate with?

Hmmm great question, if they were alive it would definitely be either Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith. 

Maybe Ween or Neutral Milk Hotel or Helvetia. I’d love to play live with the Breeders - they’re great fun , Kim Deal is such a cool lady. And Mos Def…. that would be awesome. 

Any exciting plans on the horizon?

We’re currently in the process of refining some new material for Dogsbody, as well as making a video for Let It Die, and I’ve been spending a lot of time writing. We’ve been working on the next single too which I’m really excited about releasing !

Cannons at Heaven, London

19th March 2024 

On a relatively mild evening in March a collection of some of the best dressed people in London congregated for Cannon’s sold out show at the end of their extensive european tour. The LA indie/electronic group have been travelling across the continent in support of their new album ‘Heartbeat Highway’. The energy was palpable in Heaven, an excellent venue choice for such a colourful group with the light shining off the disco ball onto vocalist Michelle Joy’s resplendent gold dress. Joy, accompanied by bandmates Ryan Clapham and Paul Davis, looked as if she had just stepped off The Oscars red carpet and gone straight to the gig with the effort very much appreciated by the crowd.

Covering tracks old and new the group quickly breezed through fan favourites ‘Fire for You’, ‘Hurricane’ and ‘Loving You’, with their serene blend of hazy Californian indie pop providing the perfect accompaniment to a long country drive on a lilting summer evening. 

Channeling some aggression in ‘Ruthless’, Joy implored the crowd to join her chants of “fuck you” in her track dedicated to a past lover. It was a nice moment for the crowd to join in but it felt almost too rude to shout such things in the presence of Cannons who were impeccably polite and polished throughout.   

Herein lies one of the key strengths of Cannons, they rarely (if ever) had a hair out of place, looking and sounding immaculate, there was no feedback from the mic, no songs restarted or outfits adjusted. It was clear that a lot of planning and rehearsal time was scheduled by the group before embarking on this tour, time well spent as they reaped the rewards in Heaven tonight. 

After a brief break the group closed the show with an encore of ‘Desire’ followed by closer ‘Evening Star’. For the latter Joy asked the crowd to turn on their phone lights, which never fails to amaze me as to just how bright it can make a room. It was a fitting end to an uplifting evening full of glitz, glamour and grooves. 

All Hail The Last Dinner Party! 

4th January 2024

The Last Dinner Party have started off 2024 with a bang in grandiose new single ‘Caesar on a TV Screen’. The latest release from the group’s upcoming album ‘Prelude to Ecstasy’ is an epic pop-rock feast accompanied by an Oscars worthy music video. 

Frontwoman Abigail Morris features as the titular Caesar with her bandmates Aurora Nishevci, Emily Roberts, Georgia Davies and Lizzie Mayland playing a selection of Roman dignitaries in their own remake of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. 

Providing a slightly more theatrical turn than their earlier singles, ‘Caesar on a TV Screen’ showcases the group’s versatility and penchant for the arts in an exciting glimpse at what’s to come in their debut album. 

Watch the Video here: https://youtu.be/wqcYU_eoihU?feature=shared

Introducing Ladye

20th July 2023

Bristol based Ladye are shaking up the South West scene with their beautiful blend of dreamy yet dark indie rock, reminiscent of The Cranberries and early Wolf Alice. After recently being blown away by their performance at The Louisiana I caught up with the talented trio to learn more about their influences, favourite venues, and what gets them up and dancing. 

Hello Ladye, can you introduce yourselves? Who’s in the band and how did you all meet? 

Hey! We’re Sam (guitar, lead vocals), Tom (drums, backing vocals) and Matilda (bass, lead vocals). We actually all grew up together in Clevedon (just outside of Bristol!) so we’ve all known each other for at least ten years now!! Tom and Sam started jamming and playing together in school and I (Matilda) actually booked them to play at a live music night in sixth-form when they were a two piece. In the few years after that and while at uni, we all played together here and there until we moved into a house together in Bristol with our mates in 2021. Then after a few months of jamming together in our bedrooms, we started writing our own stuff and Ladye was created in August 2022.

How would you describe your musical style? 

On the whole indie-rock, says Matilda. We’ve got elements of dream-pop in there and we share a combined love of shoegaze. I (Sam) take a lot of guitar influence from 80s bands like The Cure and The Smiths but like to try and make it feel more modern. Tom pulls inspiration from drummers like Dom Howard and Thom Green, both also three-pieces where there can be more of an emphasis on the drums.

Lyrically, what inspires you? 

We’re definitely more of a music before lyrics kind of band. Lyrics usually come in once we’ve worked out parts and structure. We tend to work together at this point, and talk about the general ‘vibe’ the song gives us and start writing. In terms of inspiration, we draw upon nature a fair bit and the general mood of the song. Matilda often finds some way to bring in a literary or folky link, or even pull an idea or scene from a film or TV show.

If you could support any band on tour who would it be and why? 

Well, Wolf Alice would be the dream! We’ve always loved their sound and they have such a cool live presence.

What’s your favourite gig you’ve played so far? 

Our first gig at the Fleece was definitely a highlight, we’ll never forget it but our most recent gig at The Louisiana was great. We had our friends and family singing along and everyone seemed to have a good time - which is always a bonus!

Do you enjoy being part of the Bristol music scene?

Hell yeah! Being able to grow as a new band and play in the city we grew up in is amazing. There are so many cool and independent small venues, that’re always giving new bands (like us!) a chance to play.

What’s your favourite venue (for either performing or spectating)? 

Thekla, we’ve been going to gigs there since we were 15 and it’s such a unique setting to see live music in. Even though we’re locals the novelty of going to gigs on a boat will never get old.

Do you have any exciting plans on the horizon? 

We’ve got a few headline gigs coming up this summer! Our next is at Mr Wolfs on the 10th August so absolutely buzzing for that. We’re also looking to record some new tracks in Autumn!

And importantly, what is your favourite party banger (the song(s) that will always get you up and dancing)? 

Hard question! Collectively, it has to be Round Round by Sugababes. But Sam’s is The Boy Does Nothing (Crazy Cousinz Remix) by Alesha Dixon or anything by Confidence Man.

Versus Savannah at The Fleece

29th January 2023

Sunday evenings are always a tough one for gigs, with many people (myself included) nursing hangovers from a big Saturday night or assessing their mental to do list for the week ahead, it can be difficult to garner the same energy levels as the rest of the week. However, Bristol quartet Versus Savannah faced no such issues at The Fleece. The group’s second time playing the iconic venue after a long hiatus was a triumphant return and well worth the wait.

Starting out with their signature energetic pop punk, the group sped through their 30 minute set with ease, engaging and incredibly tight as a unit there seemed to be no stopping them, even a telling off from the sound tech for swinging the mic didn’t dampen their enthusiasm. Lead single ‘Collisions’ got the best response of the night, a cathartic track reminiscent of the power punk of Mallory Knox, hinting at big things to come in the group’s upcoming EP ‘6 Years’ released next week.

Listen to Collisons here>> https://open.spotify.com/album/595HmoGwzeTy45vRNkIAYY

Review - Kid Kapichi at Rough Trade Bristol

26th September 2022

Ultimate catharsis in the face of our winter of discontent.

It seems fitting that on one of the first colder days in months, Kid Kapichi came to Bristol to provide emotional and physical warmth with the most blisteringly cathartic gig Rough Trade has seen.

Performing songs from their sophomore album ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ with some older fan favourites thrown in, the Hastings quartet were on supreme form. Always ones to truly understand the monotony and relentlessness of working life, Kid Kapichi have never been more relatable. Lyrics such as “you work your fingers to the bone but it’s never enough” from ‘Working Man’s Town’ proved devastatingly relevant for all of us facing a tough winter through the cost of living crisis.

Sounding tight as ever, the group didn’t put a foot wrong all night, even when technical issues arose for closer ‘Death Dips’. The snarling, heavy, opening bass of ‘Cops & Robbers’ actually evoked an audible "fucking hell" from a member of the crowd when bassist Eddie Lewis started playing.

There’s a sad poignancy to the timing of Kid Kapichi’s releases, with their albums mirroring the struggles facing us all, their debut album ‘This Time Next Year’ was recorded in lockdown at the height of the pandemic. ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ should have been a post lockdown victory parade. However, with physical restrictions making way for economic hardship the album still feels like its lamenting life on the other side of the looking glass, towards the future we were all hoping for. Although, this is where Kid Kapichi thrive, documenting the frustrations of life in the not so roaring twenties.

Ever relevant and ever ready, Kid Kapichi truly are a band of the people. If there was ever a group to front the revolution, it would be them. Hopefully there will be no more national crises occurring for their third album, fingers crossed.

Get to Know KABEL

21st September 2022

Get to know Gloucester indie band KABEL with this exclusive interview. Formed of song writer and guitarist/vocalist Hayden Scotford, lead guitarist Max Humphreys and drummer Kai Coombs, the group released their grungy debut single ‘KICK YOU OUT’ earlier this year.

 Hi guys, can you introduce the band and explain how you all met?

We are a Gloucester based indie band called KABEL, we have been a band for about a year and met through secondary school. When we were back in school, we always dreamt about starting a band, little did we know in a year’s time we would have supported huge artists like The Hara at The Fleece!  We have also played at O2 Institute Birmingham and at many festivals, including Mello Festival, Lechlade Festival, Digbeth Rising and more.

We have played a long line of headline shows in Gloucestershire including our most recent, a headline show at Pilgrim’s Yard which was huge!

What are your main influences as a group?

Our main influences would be Catfish and the Bottlemen, The 1975, Arctic Monkeys, Twenty One Pilots, Coldplay and more!

 How would you describe your style?

We would describe our current sound as passionate, indie, and alternative rock, but we are heading through to a new dimension, tackling indie pop.

 What is the best gig you have ever played?

The best gig we ‘would’ve’ played would have been supporting The Sherlocks in Gloucester Park but that was unfortunately cancelled. But I think it’s safe to say the biggest gig we played was supporting The Hara at a sold-out show at The Fleece in Bristol.

 Who would be your dream band to tour with?

The dream band we’d be honoured to go on tour with would have to be The 1975. We just reckon that they’d be fucking nuts to be on the road with and we know we’d have some crackin’ stories to tell aha.

 What music are you enjoying at the moment?

At the moment I’m (Hayden) enjoying artists like Sueco, Kid Brunswick and Archsta, Max is enjoying Nirvana, Yungblud and Queen. Kai is enjoying Lil Darkie and Twenty One Pilots.

Any exciting plans on the horizon?

Yes, exciting news! We have a second single coming out on the 27th September called Ice Cold!

Introducing Sell By

5th September 2022

Photo by Cora Slack

Starting out in a band is hard, many spend years finding a sound and style that works for them, playing dingy pubs, and sleeping on mate’s floors. Not for the brand-new indie export from Surrey, the immaculately presented sell by, who have managed to tick off a stellar first performance at Bristol’s The Louisiana, a recording session at Abbey Road and an indie grunge anthem all within their first few months as group.

Formed of frontman James Crowhurst, bassist Ellis Monk and drummer Jamie Royle, the group recently released their debut single ‘Social Smoker’. The track is a cathartic indie grunge anthem and ode to the loners of the world, dedicated to “the people that don’t fit in but really try to.”

Already feeling like an anthemic stadium track in waiting, ‘Social Smoker’ demonstrates a lyrical and musical maturity rarely seen in debut albums let alone debut singles. Powerful, yet with a melancholic undercurrent, ‘Social Smoker’ perfectly captures the feeling of being on the outside looking in.  Featuring big choruses, grungy bass lines and almost My Bloody Valentine levels of distortion, the track provides an exquisite start for the Guildford group, ideal, as they have already shown, sell by aren’t ones to hang around.

Top 5 records of lockdown

9th July 2020

If like me you get overly excited at the prospect of buying special edition vinyl’s then you’re in luck. I have compiled my top five recommendations for records released during lockdown to help get you through and use up some of those furlough wages! Be sure to emerge from lockdown with an incredible record collection to impress all your friends.

1.  Various Artists- Songs For The National Health Service (Release date -17th July 2020)

Is there anything more exciting than a compilation record consisting of indie’s finest bands? Comprising of new songs, covers, demos and remixes (the majority of which have never been released before) from Wolf Alice, Foals, The Big Moon, Swim Deep, Sports Team, The Orielles and more. This record is a who’s who of the current alternative music scene, released on a dark blue vinyl with cover artwork from Go De Jong & Tom Beard to make it just that bit cooler. With all profits helping to provide PPE for NHS hospitals you are also helping a good cause. This is a real must have for all indie vinyl fans out there, being charitable has never sounded so good.

2.   The Magic Gang – Death of the Party (Release Date – 21st August 2020)

Tuneful indie four piece The Magic Gang are releasing their second album ‘Death of the Party’ on the 21st of August after the initial release date was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic. The upbeat, melodic record is inspired by a range of genres including indie, disco, pop, surf rock and more with this melting pot of influences being clear in the range of songs already released, from The Style Council-esque ‘Think’ to Beach Boys inspired ‘I am Sunshine’. Aside from the music this record is a must buy due to the limited-edition zoetrope vinyl bonus version. The record uses images printed on the vinyl to play an animation as the record is spun adding even more appeal to this already hotly anticipated release.

3.   Pixies – Bossanova 30th Anniversary edition (Release Date – 7th August 2020)

Pixies are re-releasing their brilliantly out-there album ‘Bossanova’ to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The special edition is a blood red vinyl with a copy of the original sixteen-page accompanying booklet. Reminiscent of early B52s the space rock styled album sounds as fresh today as it did thirty years ago with the limited-edition red version making an excellent edition to even the most comprehensive of record collections.

4.    Declan McKenna – Zeros (Release Date – 21st August 2020)

Teen prodigy turned bona fide indie-pop genius Declan McKenna is also releasing his second album, ‘Zeros’ during lockdown. The more mature sounding record features some of his most well received songs to date including ‘The Key to Life on Earth’ and ‘Beautiful Faces’. The cosmic themed record is being released on a glow in the dark vinyl or limited-edition picture disk version to suit the space age theme. These are certain to sell out quickly as the young singer songwriter’s astronomic rise continues.

5.   Dream Wife -So When You Gonna.. (Release date- 3rd July 2020)

‘So When You Gonna..’ is the sophomore album from Brighton based punks Dream Wife and the follow up to their incredibly successful eponymous debut album. Featuring pop punk anarchy of single ‘Sports’ and frenetic angst of title track ‘So When you Gonna..’, reminiscent of Bikini Kill.  The album was produced entirely by women, a fact that the socially aware band are keen to promote, helping to raise the profile of women in the music industry. A special edition green and yellow mixed vinyl is being released, a real collector’s edition that you don’t want to miss.  

Fontaines DC release life affirming new single ‘A Hero’s Death’

25th June 2020

“Life aint always empty” is the opening line and ethos of ‘A Hero’s Death’, the latest offering from Irish post-punks Fontaines DC and the title track from their upcoming album. Due to be released on the 31st July on Partisan Records and produced by Dan Carey.

The track opens with a 70s style rhythmic drumbeat before being accompanied by punk-inspired guitars and tuneful backing vocals as lead singer Grian Chatten repeats the opening quote “Life aint always empty” in his distinctive Irish accent. The backing vocals add a nice melodic tone to the song and compliment Chatten’s raw vocals perfectly adding to the ethereal yet intense soundscape. The song has real purpose and focus that is clear throughout, at no point do Fontaines DC seem unsure of what they are doing. The track progresses into a noisy crescendo with layered vocals and crashing cymbals before concluding, sounding everything like Fontaines DC and simultaneously nothing like them. There are often lazy comparisons drawn between the group and their fellow Irish post-punk contemporaries The Murder Capital, however in this case the comparison seems appropriate with song’s essence and lyricism similar in tone but differing in direction to The Murder Capital’s dark and brooding ‘Don’t Cling to Life’ .

Channelling the same mastery of the English language as fellow countrymen James Joyce and Seamus Heaney, Fontaines DC have created a true masterpiece, never before has post punk been so poetic.  It is clear that the young Dubliners are influenced by the work of their literary predecessors with the lyrics of ‘A Hero’s Death’ reading as an inspirational poem. Chatten sings in his unmistakeable Irish drawl the eponymous line “If we give ourselves to every breath then we’re all in the running for a Hero’s death” he then repeats the mantra “Life aint always empty” becoming more and more frantic, in fact he repeats the line so many times it’s not clear if it’s for our or his own benefit and to be honest I don’t think it matters. There is a real power and gravitas to the song with the tone and intensity reminiscent of an early Editors song combined with the raw energy of Idles.

Chatten himself described the song as “ a list of rules for the self, they’re principles for self-prescribed happiness that can often hang by a thread. It’s ostensibly a positive message, but with repetition comes different meanings, that's what happens to mantras when you test them over and over. There’s this balance between sincerity and insincerity as the song goes on and you see that in the music video as well.” Adding that “The idea was influenced by a lot of the advertising I was seeing – the repetitive nature of these uplifting messages that take on a surreal and scary feel the more you see them.”

One looking for salvation would not normally think to look to the boisterous Dublin lads but ‘A Hero’s Death’ is a rallying cry to the uninspired. Shouting from the rooftops that you need to change your life for the better as no one else is going to do it for you. It is the ultimate anthem for the turbulent times we are living in, showing that you never know where the group will go next. This dark, brooding, inspirational masterpiece is not the song we expected from Fontaines DC but is most certainly the song that we needed.

Album Review - Sports Team ‘Deep Down Happy’                     

Britpop inspired, bombastic indie as quintessentially English as a National Trust café cream tea

10th June 2020

Since they burst onto the music scene in 2018 witty indie six- piece Sports Team appeared ready to release an album. With frontman Alex Rice’s infectious confidence giving the young band an air of extreme surety from their very first release. Several successful and raucous tours, a handful of characteristically amusing music videos, several coach trips to Margate to celebrate their namesake single and the odd controversial interview later the group have finally released their magnificent album ‘Deep Down Happy’ this week.

Released on Island records and produced by Burke Reid the album showcases a selection of the band’s most successful singles littered with new material. Guitarist and principal songwriter Robb Knagg opens the album demonstrating his prowess for vocals in new song ‘Lander’, a 90s inspired, indie bop with his distinctive, pithy lyricism over a rolling drum beat and intricate guitar melodies. Leading into one of the groups most popular songs  ‘Here it Comes again’ with a fast paced drum beat setting the backdrop to the Britpop sounding song featuring typical sports team lyrics such as the brilliant simile “like a burning British neck on an August evening”.

The true strength of Sports Team definitely lies in their lyrics, it’s hard to think of anyone else mastering such poeticism about the banality of everyday life in middle class England. Sounding like a mix between Morrissey at his most jovial and Phillip Larkin, Sports Team are incredibly quotable with some personal favourites of mine being “If the jokes not landing I’m happy to wait”  and “You’re brushing dust from your knuckles, but I’m too pretty to fight”.

They might not be addressing particularly hard-hitting issues, but that’s the sheer joy of this album, unadulterated, hedonistic, poetic indie in all its glory, something that has been missing since the end of Britpop. Sports team are most definitely in on the joke with subtle nods to recognise they make up so much of the middle England, middle classes that they subtly ridicule throughout. With quips about “Mock Tudor semis” and unkempt flowerbeds that “shame the neighbours.” Sports Team are as quintessentially English as a National Trust café cream tea with ‘Deep Down Happy’ providing the perfect soundtrack a slightly boozy summer BBQ in the home counties.

The strength of this album primarily lays in the previously released songs such as ‘Here’s the Thing’ and ‘Fishing’. However, new songs such as ‘Going Soft’ and ‘Feels like Fun’ help to segue nicely between the frenetic pace of other songs in Sports Team’s best attempt at a more sedate pace. Two new tracks ‘Lander’ and ‘Stations of the Cross’ bookend the album very nicely and would fair well being released a singles in their own right, providing and strong start and finish it what is a near perfect debut. In fact one of the only times this extraordinary band have put a foot wrong is when they pushed in front me in a queue in Wetherspoons last year (I can only assume important indie business called).  

If you want to either relive or experience the joy of 90s indie for the first time with incredible lyricism and wit you’d be hard pressed to find a better album than ‘Deep Down Happy’ and more to the point why would you ever want to? Sit back, relax, enjoy a can of M&S mojito and embrace all that middle class England has to offer in this stunningly self-assured debut from indie music’s finest wordsmiths.