Hailing from: London, England
Web: MySpace

By this point, we all know that the Thamesbeat scene was a journalistic creation, but it can’t be denied that there were a handful of loosely associated bands that were knocking about with similar ideas.

Some of these acts are still going strong, like Good Shoes, Mystery Jets, and Jamie T. On the other hand, Larrikin Love flamed out quickly, releasing a handful of singles and a solid album entitled The Freedom Spark.

Their early singles on Transgressive and Young and Lost Club hinted at a band with a laundry list of influences – everything from Libertines-esque indie, folk, reggae, calypso, and bluegrass. Coupled with literary influences like Rimbaud and Wilde, the band was able to create a wholly unique sound and image.

“Downing Street Kindling” was released as a single on 6 June 2006, and while not the best song on the album, it’s one of their finest lyrical moments.

The band called it quits just under a year later on 4 May. Frontman Edward Larrikin has a solo project called Pan I Am, while guitarist Micko Larkin is (seriously) now part of Courtney Love’s band.

Hailing from: London, England
Web: MySpace

While lazy journalists compare the Brute Chorus to the Arctic Monkeys (and likely spell “Artic” wrong), astute listeners will notice much more swirling in the band’s music. It’s something much more sinister, taking bits of blues and rockabilly without being too corny or over-the-top.

The band spent a freezing winter in the Lake District working on their sophomore release, which will be out in August on London-based indie TAPE. Until then, there’s first single “Could This Be Love?,” which is a perfect glimpse of things to come from these guys.

The Brute Chorus – Could This Be Love by Exitfare

Hailing from: Sheffield, England
Web: MySpace

Sometimes you need to look back to look ahead, and that’s exactly what this Yorkshire quartet does, and they do it quite well. Taking hints of ’80s C-86 mixtapers, twee pop, and ’60s R&B, as well as the band’s wry literature reference, and you have a concoction that’s both catchy and memorable.

They made quite a mark during a run of appearances at SXSW last month.  After one performance, the band made their way into the crowd, shaking hands and giving up an excellent CD filled with demos.

Second single “Bloodshot Days” is out now on Heist or Hit, and it’s accompanied by a video directed by Stella McDonald.

The Crookes – Backstreet Lovers by Exitfare

Hailing from: Manchester, England
Web: MySpace

We all know that Manchester is a hotbed for musical talent, but the best part about the city is that you can find great bands of many different styles. The past few years have seen the emergence of acts like MAY68, Egyptian Hip Hop, Secret Moves, and the Answering Machine, and really, that’s just barely scratching the surface.

Golden Glow, the project of one Pierre Hall, recently released a free EP on Holiday Records, the netlabel run by Jacob Graham of the Drums. The three songs included show a man that truly loves music, taking hints of electronica and Felt-esque guitar pop to create a satisfying blend of modern indie pop.

His debut gig is coming up on 29 April in London, supporting The Drums, while the next night he is back in Manchester for a gig with Fool’s Gold.

Golden Glow – Books by Exitfare

Hailing from: Brighton, England
Web: MySpace

This is the second single from the band’s sophomore effort, Fire Like This. They’re currently on the road throughout Europe and England right now.

Order here from the Rough Trade online shop.

Hailing from: Bergen, Norway
Web: Official Website

I never totally got the cult around Casiokids until I spent a weekend in Oslo. It was there that I spent late nights in pubs with musicians from the band’s hometown, drinking Norwegian microbrews and siting too close to the radiator so my slush-drenched sneakers could dry.

They say that to understand another man’s life, you need to spend a day in his shoes. While I didn’t quite make it to Bergen (also home to Datarock and Annie) or onto a stage in front of an adoring Scandinavian crowd, I came close enough to understand why is so alluring about Casiokids.  When I finally saw them in England last year, it all made sense.

They may not sing in English, but I learned long ago that language doesn’t matter. It’s all about intent and feeling. Great music is universal, and on the band’s debut full-length Topp stemning på lokal bar, the band produces a gem. The record is out June 08 on Polyvinyl Records in the US. The band have previously released music in Europe via Moshi Moshi, both as part of the label’s renowned “Singles Club” and as a series of double A-sided 7″s.

Check out a track from the album below.

Casiokids-Finn bikkjen! by Exitfare

Hailing from: Leeds, England
Web: MySpace

Oft-mentioned (at least ’round these parts) spazz popsters Pulled Apart By Horses are set to release a very special live vinyl for Record Store Day this weekend. Limited to just 500 copies, the good folks at Transgressive Records will be making this dream come true. Pre-orders are totally gone, but if you were slow on the uptake, a select group of stores across England will have stock. I am sure this is obvious, but if you want your copy get there early.

According to RCRD LBL, the band has played 309 gigs in the last year, which is mental. Thankfully I’ve seen two of them.

Rough Trade – London
Crash – Leeds
Hyde Park records – Leeds
Norman Records – Leeds
Jumbo Record – Leeds
Banquet Records – Kingston
Soundclash – Norwich
Soundhouse – Broadstairs
101 collectors – Surrey
Sound it Out Records – Stockton on Tees
Rise – Bristol / Cheltenham / Warwick
Reflex – Newcastle
Imperial Music – Inverness
Davids Music – Letchworth
Solo Music – Barnstable

The band also plays two gigs that day, one in London and the other in Leeds.
Rough Trade East, London – Record Store Day instore – 11:00am
Crash Records, Leeds – Record Store Day instore – 18:30pm

Download “Get Off My Ghost Train” from Live at Leeds below.

Pulled Apart By Horses – Get Off my Ghost Train (Live) by Exitfare

Hailing from: Oxford, England
Web: MySpace

As reported yesterday by Prefix, Britpop era stalwarts Supergrass have announced their break-up, citing musical differences. They were to have released their 7th album earlier this year on Cooking Vinyl (entitled Release the Drones), but at this point the album may not see the light of day. The band officially formed in 1993.

Their final gigs will consist of select UK dates and a final gig in Paris on June 11th.

In memoriam, here are some of the band’s best videos.

“Caught By The Fuzz”

“Cheapskate”

“Moving”

“Kiss of Life”

Hailing from: Leeds, England
Web: MySpace

Although together for a very short time – early ’06 until the end of ’07 – Mother Vulpine left us with a handful of very promising songs that had riffs reminiscent of QOTSA and a rhythm section that’s usually reserved for a much trendier band.  They never made their split official, but a note they posted in September 2007 made it clear that the future didn’t seem too bright.

While their output was limited, it’s a band that remains one of my favorites to this day. If you’ve yet to hear, go to their MySpace page and start with “We’ll Be Detectives.” You’ll be sold in an instant.

The band’s one and only video is a self-directed affair done for course at Leeds Metropolitan University. The action of the chase scene matches the frenetic energy of the song perfectly, and although the storyline might not be easily discernible, it’s a memorable clip nonetheless. Additionally, there’s a behind the scenes clip here.

While the band’s official releases amount to just one 7″ and just compilation appearances, the former members have moved on to some other notable projects. Lead singer Matt Bigland is now in Dinosaur Plle-up, bassist Tom Hudson currently plays in Pulled Apart By Horses, and Lindsay Wilson has officially joined Grammatics as the cellist.

Hailing from: Dalston, London, England
Web: MySpace

Django Django has always intrigued me for a number of reasons. They’ve always been a band that I wanted to like, but one that I never got right away. They probably enjoy being mysterious and a little tough to digest, but the journey to understanding them is a wild and crazy ride, and one that is well worth taking. Equal parts spacey electronica and Saharan rhythms, latest single “WOR” / “Skies Over Cairo” is easily the most unique song that will get on the dancefloor all year. If references to the Beta Band come to mind, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise – John MacLean’s brother Dave is in Django Django.

Pick up their latest release from the Pure Groove online shop.