Late Of The Pier (depeche mode, electronic, dance, indie, pop)

Rainard Jalen · 06-11-2008, 01:35 AM

Stumbled across this band entirely by accident, and surprisingly, I actually quite like what I've heard. Band from Nottingham playing a very strange hybrid of synth-pop/pointed electronica and Britpop.

Anyway whaddy'all think? Song I heard was "Focker".

MySpace.com - late of the pier - Castle Donington - Nottingham, UK - Latin / Glam / Thrash - www.myspace.com/lateofthepier

Molecules · 06-13-2008, 11:21 AM

Really cool band. I heard dribblets about them, was belatedly watching NME TV round a friends and heard 'Space and the Woods'. Great. They seem to cover the whole Gary Numan/early Depeche Mode/ Human League thing really well. Video ain't too shabby either.

Fortunately they seem to have missed the whole fly-by-night 'Nu-Rave' catch. How ****e was that? They certainly support the whole 'music continuum' theory, where musical trends are always moving in circles; first the 'post-punk revival' (an oxymoron methinks) and now it's going all synth-pop on us. Best brace for that inevitably flaccid debut album!

Isn't that synth-line basically 'Cars'?

Molecules · 04-26-2009, 12:24 AM

HEY, f*cking BUMP

It's 10 months odd later and the album Fantasy Black Channel is unheralded in almost all quarters, I think the 'young upstarts riding on hype limited-pressing indie label singles debut album soon the kids love it NME nu-rave tagging shit' reputation preceding it's release probably did not give their record the discerning listeners (i.e. musicbanter people with glasses and top 100 avant-prog album countdown threads) it thoroughly deserves.

Let me paint a picture for you: take the most energetic parts of the highly annoying 'post-punk revival'/syncopated snares/dance-y/synth-pop thing - BUT put it in the hands of these wildly ambitious fruitcakes who give the ADD 90's teeny-boppers the hooks they need to understand anything within complex, multi-part, eclectic arrangements with a disparate array of influences you will only get piecemeal with other flavour-of-the-month types. The video posted above is a particularly good example of LoTP taking this very recognisable, generic hit sound (I speak for UK-dwellers at least) and stretching it out and just bloody experimenting.

One comparison that has been drawn I just read is Frank Zappa which didn't make any sense until just now... The album is a very catchy Gary Numan rip-off album on the face of it, yes, but you will not be able to fully absorb it with two or three listens, this is where the band wins. Then you'll start to hear the ostentatious glam, the progressive elements, the punk, the Afro-beat (in the tradition of great post-punk of yore I'm sure you will agree).

They endear themselves to me for being so brash and so annoyingly loud (the production is typically modern overcompensation, the vocals are peaking out on one mid-album track, which is f*cking annoying and hurts on headphones) that you realise it's just unselfconscious - they are (or were) a very young band. Album's not perfect but the next one would definitely be one to watch, if this was the late 70's. edit: they are from Leicestershire, which if you have ever been there will explain a lot

Sneer · 04-27-2009, 10:39 AM

One of he most interesting albums to come out of Britain in ages. Thoroughly recommended.

jackhammer · 04-27-2009, 02:22 PM

I could see this becoming a grower for sure and they definitely have that early 80's Electro Pop vibe going on.

simplephysics · 04-27-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Molecules

They endear themselves to me for being so brash and so annoyingly loud (the production is typically modern overcompensation, the vocals are peaking out on one mid-album track, which is f*cking annoying and hurts on headphones) that you realise it's just unselfconscious - they are (or were) a very young band. Album's not perfect but the next one would definitely be one to watch, if this was the late 70's. edit: they are from Leicestershire, which if you have ever been there will explain a lot

Loved the energy. Not bad, not bad at all. Those synthy notes brought the song together quite nicely.

Molecules · 04-27-2009, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreadnaught

Loved the energy. Not bad, not bad at all. Those synthy notes brought the song together quite nicely.

you're not wrong! I get really excited about them once in a blue moon then totally forget they exist, must be brain rot. They are a synth act on these singles but they are all over the place on the album, i'd basically classify them as the only 'post-punk revival' band that I don't hate, which they should actually pay me for.
I am PM happy for this as well if anybody is 'curious'

Where is Marijan the bastard he would like them

simplephysics · 04-27-2009, 06:44 PM

I'd freakin' love to hear more, Molecules. PM away.

06-11-2008, 01:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
Rainard Jalen Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,221	Late Of The Pier Stumbled across this band entirely by accident, and surprisingly, I actually quite like what I've heard. Band from Nottingham playing a very strange hybrid of synth-pop/pointed electronica and Britpop. Anyway whaddy'all think? Song I heard was "Focker". MySpace.com - late of the pier - Castle Donington - Nottingham, UK - Latin / Glam / Thrash - www.myspace.com/lateofthepier

06-13-2008, 11:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	Really cool band. I heard dribblets about them, was belatedly watching NME TV round a friends and heard 'Space and the Woods'. Great. They seem to cover the whole Gary Numan/early Depeche Mode/ Human League thing really well. Video ain't too shabby either. Fortunately they seem to have missed the whole fly-by-night 'Nu-Rave' catch. How ****e was that? They certainly support the whole 'music continuum' theory, where musical trends are always moving in circles; first the 'post-punk revival' (an oxymoron methinks) and now it's going all synth-pop on us. Best brace for that inevitably flaccid debut album! Isn't that synth-line basically 'Cars'? __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her

04-26-2009, 12:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
Molecules daddy don't Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: the Wastes Posts: 2,577	HEY, fcking BUMP It's 10 months odd later and the album Fantasy Black Channel* is unheralded in almost all quarters, I think the 'young upstarts riding on hype limited-pressing indie label singles debut album soon the kids love it NME nu-rave tagging shit' reputation preceding it's release probably did not give their record the discerning listeners (i.e. musicbanter people with glasses and top 100 avant-prog album countdown threads) it thoroughly deserves. Let me paint a picture for you: take the most energetic parts of the highly annoying 'post-punk revival'/syncopated snares/dance-y/synth-pop thing - BUT put it in the hands of these wildly ambitious fruitcakes who give the ADD 90's teeny-boppers the hooks they need to understand anything within complex, multi-part, eclectic arrangements with a disparate array of influences you will only get piecemeal with other flavour-of-the-month types. The video posted above is a particularly good example of LoTP taking this very recognisable, generic hit sound (I speak for UK-dwellers at least) and stretching it out and just bloody experimenting. One comparison that has been drawn I just read is Frank Zappa which didn't make any sense until just now... The album is a very catchy Gary Numan rip-off album on the face of it, yes, but you will not be able to fully absorb it with two or three listens, this is where the band wins. Then you'll start to hear the ostentatious glam, the progressive elements, the punk, the Afro-beat (in the tradition of great post-punk of yore I'm sure you will agree). They endear themselves to me for being so brash and so annoyingly loud (the production is typically modern overcompensation, the vocals are peaking out on one mid-album track, which is fcking annoying and hurts on headphones) that you realise it's just unselfconscious - they are (or were) a very young band. Album's not perfect but the next one would definitely be one to watch, if this was the late 70's. edit: they are from Leicestershire, which if you have ever been there will explain a lot __________________ [SIZE="1"]Eff em tumble her Last edited by Molecules; 04-26-2009 at 12:34 AM.*

04-27-2009, 10:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,430	One of he most interesting albums to come out of Britain in ages. Thoroughly recommended. __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show

04-27-2009, 02:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I could see this becoming a grower for sure and they definitely have that early 80's Electro Pop vibe going on. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”