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ARCTIC
MONKEYS |
The
word ‘phenomenon’ is one that’s bandied
around far too easily these days
and yet, here at last, is a band
that justifies the hype and hoopla
surrounding them. Amazingly, Sheffield
’s Arctic Monkeys were already massive
before they even bothered to sign
a record deal. Distributing demos
for free at gigs and via the internet,
Arctic Monkeys garnered the kind
of rabid following other bands can
only dream about and proceeded to
sell out venues wherever and whenever
they played.
Fronted by charismatic 19-year-old singer/guitarist Alex
Turner, Arctic Monkeys’ razor sharp observations on the ennui
of modern life in the satellite towns that pepper the land
have struck a chord with the disenfranchised youth that inhabit
them. Attracting hardcore fans from as far away as
Aberdeen
, Arctic
Monkeys are regularly confronted with fans that
know the songs better than they do!
Their debut London gig was to a sold-out audience at the
2000 capacity Astoria Theatre and the single ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor’ entered
the national charts at Number 1.
All in all, impressive stuff from a band yet to release their
debut album. 2006 is, without a doubt, set to be the Year
Of The Monkey.
Download
Arctic Monkeys now or
subscribe to Wippit.
Click
here for Arctic Monkeys Ringtone.
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Hard-Fi |
Following the break up of Contempo, front man Richard Archer found himself
dragged back to his old hometown of Staines. A satellite town characterised by
chain pubs, disenfranchised youth and random, casual violence, Archer was
inspired by the feeling of suburban ennui to start writing the
Stars of CCTV album.
Archer soon gathered a band around him to flesh out his vision. Drummer Steve
Kemp was an old friend, guitarist Ross Philips was poached form the hi-fi shop
that Archer used to listen to his demos under the pretence of checking out
equipment and bassist Kai Stephens didn’t need much persuasion to leave his job
at Rent-o-Kill.
Despite securing a deal with Atlantic records,
Hard-Fi insisted on recording their debut album using
their own Cherry Lips studio – to all intents and purposes a home made studio
that managed to capture the grit that Archer was after.
Support slots with
The Bravery and
Kaiser Chiefs saw
Hard-Fi gaining the exposure they’d always dreamed. By
the end of 2005,
Hard-Fi had secured a Mercury Music Prize as they
poised themselves for the next step up their career.
Download
Hard-Fi now or
subscribe to Wippit.
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