Features

The Boyfriends, We Start Fires, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Bill's Tips for 2006

Bill Cummings 06/02/2006

The Boyfriends

When London based songwriting partnership Martin Wallace (vocalist) and Richard Adderley(guitars) met David Barnett(bass) and Paddy Pulzer (drums) in 2002 the Boyfriends present line up was complete. Their first show in 2003 was a sold out appearance at The Bull and Gate. In 2005 they released a split EP with current NME darlings The Long Blondes and their unstoppable rise continued last summer, when they were the first band ever to play the John Peel Stage at Glastonbury.
Musically, the Boyfriends are often dark but always uplifting they are often compared to the Smiths, but that would be a lazy comparison. Sure Martin's vocal tone shares Morrissey's melodrama and passion, but this band have more disparate influences: you can hear the throb of Joy Division's “Love Will Tear Us Apart” in David's bass notes, and the crunching power of the Jesus and Mary Chain in Richard's aggressive guitar licks. Signed to Welsh record label Boobytrap Records last year, the band release their debut single 'I Love You' on February 13th. Singer Martin reckons “I Love You is the most important British pop record for years, because it says something that too many people are afraid to say, in a way that they're too afraid to say it.” The Boyfriends aren't just ones to watch in 2006 it will be hard to take your eyes off them.

The Boyfriends

Clap your hands Say Yeah

In some ways America's Clap your hands Say yeah's rise has much in common with that of the Arctic Monkeys; a similar internet buzz was created through word of mouth and file sharing led them to sell over 25,000 copies of their debut album which were all packed and distributed from their own apartments in Philadelphia and new York, classic DIY. Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA) then stepped in and agreed to distribute the album in shops across North America. The album has now sold over 50,000 copies in the US. But how does it sound? Well, lead singer Alec Ounsworth's off-kilter Talking Heads meets Early Flaming lips croak perfectly rides the waves of tuneful lo-fi, rhythmic indie that are weaved by CYHSY as a band. For example, the marvellously bittersweet single “Is This Love?” features not just an insatiable vocal but jangling guitar, organs, stroking xylophones, and a triangle! The album finally gets its release in the UK on Witchita records at the end of January. Its brand of quirky bittersweet melodic tunefulness has the potential to cross over into the mainstream and Clap your hands Say Yeah could quite feasibly be this years Arcade Fire - style success story. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah



We Start Fires

North East Girl fronted indie punk popsters, We Start Fires are a stupendous prospect, steadily growing in stature from their more twee beginnings on their debut album “Caught Red Handed” through to last years pouting art punk disco hit “Strut.” They recently released a storming new double A side “Hot Metal /Hip Shake ” on hip Label Pure groove. Imagine the pop chops of Kenickie mixed with the boisterous punk of primetime Elastica and you're somewhere near the sound that bursts forth from We Start Fires. Catch them on tour throughout the UK and in March 31st Paradiso in AMSTERDAM at the London Calling festival.

We Start Fires