Archive.
 

It's no good. I have to have a thread about the awesome british band that are criminally overlooked. This probably isn't even the right area for them as their music touches on so many aspects. Taking in epic 10+ minute songs of sweeping build up's to trip hop edged melancholia and back through Radiohead tinged ditties and Pink Floyd infused Post rock sounds.

A sample of their genre flitting sound:






Recommened albums? All of them! Their latest 'Controlling Crowds' is another cracking album. The best band in Britain ATM? damn close I say.

Masters in the art of a build up. Underrated indeed.

They don't write hit singles and that's why they aren't as big as say Coldplay yet they tread very similar ground with their emotionally tinged tunes.

I see more Radiohead in them, a nice combination of OK Computer/Kid A stuff.

Alright jackhammer, you've talked them up pretty big, and your recommendations are usually fantastic. I'll download an album or two and get back to you on what I think.

I only have "You All Look The Same To Me" (which is pretty great BTW). Which one would be the next best to check out?

Never heard of them before! I like it, especially the second track you've posted

they're difficult to find album wise, any ups? i only have Londinium.

Expect a PM.

Anyone else need PM's just holler.

I liked Controlling Crowds a lot. Definitely more of a trip hop sound to it than Radiohead, but that's great for me right now.

I concur, Controlling Crowds is splendid

Archive are stupendously good but then their music is geared to the hopeless romantic!

I got their album "Controlling Crowds" about a month ago from another forum I frequent, I quite like them but have been unable to find anything else by them. If you could hook me up I'd appreciate it man, chanks :D

My first reaction is it's to mellow and generic white noise-like to catch my attention, but that was my reaction to Radiohead initially so considering some in this thread have made the comparison, they might end up in my wheelhouse before too long.

I will sort some albums for you ASAP.

I, as I have stated elsewhere, am not a fan of radiohead at all. However, I found Archive to be quite pleasing to the ears :p I think it sounds more like radiohead playing pink floyd with a trip hop band performing along side, and that is just simply awesome. I love trip hop. Any chance I could get a pm? You're recommendations are usually great.

Amazing another fantastic British band that i only discovered through friends when i moved to Germany! same thing with Pure Reason Revolution and The Miserable Rich!

Hey Jackhammer, cheers for these, never heard of these tbh, they completely slipped under my radar! I love the tunes you've posted and will be listening to some albums in the near future! I'll let ya know what I think!

WOW! Controlling Crowds is amazin! Bullets, what a belter!

"Controlling Crowds Pt. 4," another full length EP was released a couple of days ago... I'm sitting here with a link but my shitty internet is preventing me from hearing it... anyone give it a listen yet?

I don't have Controlling Crowds, will definitely get it, thanks for recommendations.

Now listening to this wonderful 18 min track: