In the past three years Maybeshewill has…Released an EP, two albums, a single, split 7″ and split 12″ in the UK, Europe and Japan, toured the UK with Fight Fire With Water, Worriedaboutsatan and And So I Watch You From Afar (though not at the same time), toured Japan with Ovum, been Huw Stephens’ album of the week, played with the likes of Foals, Johnny Truant, This Will Destroy You, 65daysofstatic and Amusement Parks On Fire (as well as several hundred others), started their own record label, played the Dot To Dot, Truck, Hockley Hustle, Summer Sundae and Brainwash Festivals and been very bored in vans and on aeroplanes for a large proportion of their lives. There are more plans afoot, but then there always is…
“They’ve the potential to become a domestic instrumental act that truly matters over the next twelve months.” – Drowned In Sound
“All of this is incredibly easy on the ear, positioning Maybeshewill as a poppy alternative to post-rock bands that make you work your bollocks off just to be rewarded with a single nugget of prettiness or meaty riffage. We’ve all been there; we’ve all been impatient. Here, everything’s laid out for easy access and instant enjoyment, and you’ll be constantly coming back for more. This full-length introduction to what Maybeshewill can do signals the arrival of a compelling, fascinating talent.” – Drowned In Sound (8/10)
“Most bands couldn’t juggle the collective noise of Mogwai and Glassjaw without exploding… These songs are extremely quick to kick your teeth in when you least expect it” – Kerrang (KKKK)
“Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing – but that’s exactly the point” – RockSound (8/10)
CATS & CATS & CATS (Pictured)
Cats and Cats and Cats stagger their trademark brand of catchy math rock with folk inspired post rock sections. Starting in early 2005 when friends Ben (Vocals, Guitar) and Tom (Bass, Backing Vocals) met Doug (Drums) at the University of Hertfordshire. Their debut EP, Victorialand, picked up some great reviews and the attention of the UK experimental rock underground. Never being ones to grow musically stagnant, Cats expanded their line up to include Adam (Guitar) and Eve (Violin) to record 2006’s mini album Sweet Drunk Everyone. The new direction split opinion with a weighting towards a fuller, more ambitious post rock sound. Extensive touring followed with the band sharing stages with their heroes Youthmovies, 65 Days of Static, Foals and Blood Red Shoes and performing twice at Glastonbury Festival.
Cats x 3 were soon gaining label interest and, after releasing a split single for Wolf Party records, decided their next release would be with Big Scary Monsters records. BSM has been releasing consistently innovative and inspiring records for years and the label seemed like an obvious choice for the band. The split EP with Oxford’s This Town Needs Guns (Sept ’07) was a storming success and received rave reviews from the likes of NME, Rock Sound and Drowned in Sound. Huw Stephens invited both bands to record a Radio 1 Session which was aired in early October.
Currently the band have just finished recording their first full length album due to be released late 2009. The album, titled If I’d had an atlas, contains 11 previously unreleased tracks and the band are currently booking an October tour to promote the first single.
The Muscle Club formed in early ’08. Self released a 7” single. Recorded two BBC Radio 1 Sessions (one at Maida Vale) and eventually managed to sort themselves into releasing their EP with the help of Smalltown Records.
They have toured the country twice, from Scotland to Southampton. They have played with the likes of Cursive, Future of the Left, Danananaykroyd and Johnny Foreigner.
Short sharp spiky indie pop not too dissimilar from The Cure’s earlier efforts played along side contemporaries such as The Cribs.
Cat Matador are a 4 piece experimental indie band based in Oxford comprising of Liam Martin: Guitar and Vocals, Sian Lloyd-Williams: Violin and Backing Vocals, Wolfgang: Bass and Backing Vocals and Christopher Roe-French on Drums.
They specialise in creating swathes of sound that are original, memorable and well structured. The songs range from ethereal, shoe-gazing, prog-influenced soundscapes to more melodic and poppy outings. Somewhere in between the sound of close personal contemplation and a large aircraft taking off, they wield delayed guitars, fuzzed up bass-lines, disco beats and soaring strings to sculpt their distinctive sound.
Recently sharing the stage with acts such as iLikeTrains, Kyte, The British Expeditionary Force and Jonquil, they have been likened to many vastly varying acts such as: The National, British Sea Power, The Flaming Lips, The Cure, The Tindersticks, Joy Division, Cajun Dance Party and Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
“Cat Matador create a high-octane form of indie rock that veers between epic and introspective but with enough force and character to keep the large crowd fully engaged” – Nightshift Magazine
“Curiously arresting…It seems like it really shouldn’t work but makes it all the more pleasurable that it does, the sum being truly greater than the parts” – The Fly
“Indubitable” – BBC Oxford Introducing
“part pop and part misery….Cat Matador show enormous commitment to their material, an experimental grunge/rock that is quite original, dynamic, catchy and very clever…they will surely emerge sooner or later as yet another amazing Oxford group” – Oxfordbands.com
PLUS:
DJ STEVE HONEYWILL
DJ MOGSY (CLUB NME)
DJ JAMIE SWIFT (SET IN MOTION)
For full into regarding the month festival in association with The Joy Collective, see http://www.mezefestival.co.uk
