Band crush – musicians recommend new acts

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We’re looking back at some of the Band Crush recommendations that have been made in the mag this year. Starting with: Rhys Webb, The Horrors: “Advert are one of the most exciting bands in east London now. They’re really raw, isolated and not bothered about being part of any scene.” (NME, 24th July issue).

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Oliver Sim, The xx: “James Blake is the one artist emerging from the UK all three of us are most excited about. He makes electronic bass music, and has recently started singing over the top of his productions. He has an amazing voice.” (NME, 1st May issue).

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Bethany Cosentino, Best Coast: “There’s a really awesome band called Dunes from LA. They just put an EP out, ad they do an awesome post-punk meets Cocteau Twins sort of thing. It’s neat, you should check them out.” (NME, 23rd October issue).

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Ezra Koenig, Vampire Weekend: “We toured with this really cool Australian band called Cloud Control. There’s one girl, the rest are guys, and they have sweet harmonies. They just released their first album.” (NME, 5th June issue).

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Pink Eyes, Fucked Up: “Gape Attack are a real dark, minimal synth band from Seattle. I know nest to nothing about them – there’s no information on their seven-inch. My friend who works at a record store took me aside and said, ‘I think this is up your alley’, and he was right. It’s amazing.” (NME, 24th April issue).

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Angus Andrew, Liars: “Factory Floor. It reminds me of Underworld, even though I was talking to Dom from the band and he didn’t get that. They’re doing something new and something I’d like to be doing.” (NME, 26th June issue).

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James Buckley, The Inbetweeners: “States of Emotion are an excellent group. They’re from Brentwood. I did one of their videos [for ‘The Unsung’]. They’re just a very good indie guitar band, definitely worth checking out.” (NME, 16th October issue).

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Kele Okereke: “I’m currently gagging hard on the Menomena album ‘Mines’. I’ve loved all of their records but this one takes the biscuit, minimal quasi-orchestral prog rock. I love it.” (NME, 7th August issue).

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Marina Diamandis, Marina And The Diamonds: “I met a girl called Meredith Sheldon in the States. She doesn’t gig or anything, but her music’s subtle and atmospheric. I really like it, and I’m fussy!” (NME, 3rd July issue).

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Gareth Campesinos!, Los Campesinos!: “Mike Hadreas (aka Perfume Genius) is a guy from Seattle who writes beautiful, haunting piano ballads that just dig into your soul; it’s the most fragile and overwhelming music I’ve heard in a long time.” (NME, 8th May issue).

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Tim Burgess, The Charlatans: “I’ve just recorded two tracks with Blue On Blue in my studio up in Crewe. They’re a dark London band who have a bubblegum side as well. Singer Dee was in An Experiment On A Bird In The Air Pump.” (NME, 9th October issue).

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Yanis Philippakis, Foals: “I saw this techno-pop duo called Sexy Sushi at the Bourges Festival in France recently and I was just transfixed. The singer sounded so pained, but her energy was mesmerising – the crowd were going insane.” (NME, 15th May issue).

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Jamie Righton, Klaxons: “Our live keyboardist Anthony played us Fiction, and we decided to take them out supporting us. They’re a post punk band, but have a far wider range of ideas than most I’ve heard in recent years.” (NME, 2nd October issue).

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