Album Of The Year...

While I generally loathe list's, thanks mostly to magazines and their constant reliance on them for content, I always think it's good to take stock of what music has been released throughout the year. So with this my friends I have decided to choose my favorite album of the year. This year it was pretty easy; while there have been several albums I've loved this year, the above one in particular sticks out.

In the wake of the Klaxons success last year, A&R men desperately searched for new indie bands who played keyboards whilst decked in neon outfits. When Bathroom Gurgle appeared on Moshi Moshi, back in late 2007, it was clear that the Castle Donington four piece weren’t going to be another Trash Fashion.  But with Fantasy Black Channel, Late Of The Pier exceeded expectations.

Under the guide of producer Erol Alkan, Late Of The Pier have crafted a thrilling debut: a schizophrenic behemoth that shows what happens when four young men with ADD fuel themselves with MDMA.   

The influence’s shine through clearly; Sam Eastgate’s vocal delivery dips between Gary Numan & David Byrne and Focker sounds like Muse if they were stuck in a lift with Boys Noize. These are just a few examples of a wealth of music that’s been digested and re-imagined by this band and that’s what makes them so exciting. In a day and age where we still have idiots like The Enemy aping The Jam, this year Late Of The Pier showed us music can and will continue to be exciting. A fact that’s clearly not lost on the band; the title The Enemy Are The Future originated when the band, who were supporting the Coventry hobbits, found a flyer displaying said manifesto.

Fantasy Black Channel is musical Play Doh; taking techno, rock and pop and blending them seamlessly. Like the Klaxons, Late Of The Pier have shaken off the shackles of “Nu Rave” and proven themselves to be a exciting and intelligent modern pop band.