Fresh meat

First off folks, let me introduce myself. My name is Amy Sylvester, and I am officially a new contributor to Lady Byrd's popular music portal, Who Needs Radio? Without a doubt, I am delighted to be a part of this bourgeoning blog and its evolution. More importantly, I feel privileged to have the opportunity to share my love of music and its intricacies with all of you. While I'm here, I hope to give you a fresh perspective on new tunes, bands and sonic trends. Ideally, I'd like to develop a rapport with each and every one of you dedicated readers. Realistically, I plan to earn your collective trust as a respectable and knowledgeable music aficionado. (Fingers crossed!)

All that being said, let's get on with the show.


It kind of goes without saying that the last thing the UK (or anybody else, for that matter) needs is another Radiohead/Coldplay rip-off, but there. I said it. That's why when I initially heard about Beggars Banquet's newest offering, London-based band The Early Years - a towering inferno of ambient fuzz, psychedelic riffs and murky melodies - I couldn't help but be a bit skeptical. My ears don't eagerly anticipate being underwhelmed by another Thom Yorke wannabe and his tech-junkie backup band.

Fortunately, I miscalculated. Much like their atmospherock predecessors, the three British blokes behind The Early Years share a love for lush, sweepings sounds and absurdly long feedback sessions (band creator David Malkinson got his solo start in 2004 with a 20-minute, noise-laden set for 20 people). But the amnesiastic similarities pretty much end there.

Melding influences as diverse as Spiritualized, Television and Neu! (who knew?), The Early Years compellingly capture not a decade or genre, but a mood. It's no wonder the trio is already a hit in its homeland: Besides conquering crowds at a number of large UK festivals, the group has also successfully infiltrated the small screen thanks to a Nike World Cup ad and late-night rotation on MTV2.

Though The Early Years certainly lives up to its nostalgic name in terms of inspiration and instrumentation (Brian Eno-era studio technology continues to rule Malkinson and company's creative unconscious), there is nothing stale about these sounds. Save a few slower, less impressive jams, The Early Years's debut energizes as much as it harkens back to a bygone time. "The Simple Solution," for instance, is an upbeat little number that conjures easy comparison to '80s mainstay Echo and the Bunnymen.

I can't promise The Early Years will arouse within you any life-changing epiphanies, but at the very least, you can expect your senses to awaken. Before you know it, your heart and feet will be beating at a frenetic, Flashdance-level pace. Your coworkers might think you've lost your mind. Hey, that's good enough for me.

From The Early Years (preorder @ Insound):
All Ones & Zeros
The Simple Solution
So Far Gone
+ Myspace

Keep bootscootin',
Amy