Before their gig in Cardiff last week, New Zealand’s masters of bleeps and beeps, So So Modern, chatted to TLOBF about their mammoth recent tour, coordinating outfits and possible plans to be radiation therapists and child educators.

Tell us a bit about yourselves and your band.
[Daniel] Hello. My name is Daniel Nagels and I play drums.
[Aidan] My name is Aidan and I play two synthesisers and sing.
[Mark] I’m Mark. I sing, I play guitar and synthesisers and push buttons.
[Grayson] I’m Grayson. I do pretty much what Mark does; I play guitar, play keyboards, play the sampler and do some singing, but I look a bit better.
[A] So So Modern is a band from a city called Wellington in New Zealand. We started just before Christmas 2004. We were just jamming with different people at different times in the same city, but the city is so small that you can’t really avoid anyone that displays similar interests as one’s self and so we just got together. Continue Reading

A brand new act on the thriving UK folk scene are female duo Smoke Fairies. Their music stripped back and haunting, wraps itself around you like a thick blanket of smoke whilst their two part harmonies rattle around your head hours after listening. We recently caught up with Katherine and Jessica to find out a little more about their history and musical influences. Turns out, unsuprisingly, they have excellent taste - not only musically but in their choice of beverage. Ladies and gentlemen - say hello to Smoke Fairies.

Hello girls - It’s our round. What are you having?
Katherine - The most expensive single malt whisky at the bar on ice please.
Jessica - That or a Banana Daiquiri

Right, now we’ve got that out of the way…A little about the band. For people out there that have never heard of you. Give us three reasons why they should…
1. Because hopefully, there is nothing else quite like it.
2. Because it will let you escape to some place in your mind that you have never visited before.
3. Because it will leave you feeling something, not sure what exactly - it makes me feel restless. Continue Reading

After recently signing their praises as part of our TLOBF Loves pieces, we managed to get Matt and Dimitri from the band to answer our quick fire questions about what makes them tick… They even gave us some photos to share!

For people out there that have never heard of you. Give us three reasons why they should…
Dimitri: They might like us?? …and Jack has a good new hair cut (I cut it!).
Matt: Surely you should never judge a band by their hair cuts Dimitri!? Continue Reading

No, they’re not a Wilco tribute band. The Late Greats are, in fact, a guitar toting 4-piece from the rock n roll capital of the UK: Eastbourne. (That last bit was a joke by the way). Anyway - they’ve impressed us with their hook laden single ‘Futures Gold’ (released June 2nd), so we thought we’d catch up with them to pitch our ‘getting to know you’ questions. Here goes….

For people out there that have never heard of you. Give us three reasons why they should…
First question and its pretty tricky. We’d like to think that its 1- because we’re quite good. 2- because we’re quite good. 3- because we’re quite good. One of the best things that anyone has said about us after a gig is “I actualy quite liked them”. Not expecting anything from nothing but coming out pleasently surprised about the results. I guess you’ve got to come see us play to make your own judgement. We will do our best to tickle your inner souls. Continue Reading

I have an admission to make; until very recently, I’d not heard of The Drift . But, a slot on the Explosions in the Sky curated ATP event this month and finding themselves in my town of Cambridge the same week, it made me investigate their music. And what music it is. Evocative post-rock that features heavy use of brass instruments, giving their music an added dimenson and separating it in a genre that’s starting to sound tired. I caught up with guitarist and keyboardist Danny Grody to find out what’s behind the band. Continue Reading

Oxford’s Keyboard Choir have, with their debut, released an album so full of great music that takes in a whole breadth of influences, we had to name them our new favourite band. So, as part of our sparkly new feature, we found out when makes them tick…

For people out there that have never heard of you. Give us three reasons why they should…
We have dancing robots. We reflect the encroaching sense of terror and despair at the increasing likelihood of global apocalypse, and we have some happy songs too. Continue Reading

The electro-pop sound of Muscles seems to be secreting itself across the UK at the moment. The Melbourne based act has been taken the world by storm recently, selling out shows across their native Australia and getting the NME and the BBC to say nice things about them.

Continue Reading

In this brand spanking new feature, we’ll be bringing you exclusive interviews with the newest and best acts we think you’ll love.

Kicking things off in grandiose style are John & Jehn. They’re a French couple, very much in love, who moved from their hometowns to London at the end of 2006. Their self-titled debut (released 21st April) is an album brimming with passion in the songwriting, performance and delivery. Oozing genuine style, sexuality and swagger; they’re the epitome of cool.

Influenced by Serge Gainsbourg, The Velvet Underground, Gang of Four, Joy Division, and Johnny Cash. John & Jehn’s music is a collection of sonic experiments, carried by dark humour on razor-sharp pop melodies. Listen for yourself, with two free mp3’s at the bottom of the article. Like what you hear? Head on down to the album launch party, which is being held at The Luminaire in London on 23rd April. Continue Reading