It’s the return of Lend Me a Band, our music recommendation feature. For the uninitiated the premise is this: we ask a band or artist to suggest another band or artist that we should listen to, who then suggest another band or artist that we should listen to, who then suggest ano … well, you get the gist.
Kicking things off are Yard Act, the Leeds post-punkers (pictured above) who broke through in 2022 with their debut The Overload, full of pithy state of the nation lyrics and urgent, stabbing guitar lines. Maybe post-punkers is a bit of an outdated description now, because their new album Where’s My Utopia sees them branch out pretty dramatically. There are hints of Gorillaz (perhaps unsurprisingly, given Gorillaz member Remi Kabaka Jr co-produced it) and the Beta Band in their wide-ranging sound, taking in electro, krautrock, disco and lots more.
Yard Act have started a chain that takes in freak-funk, Disney themes and broken Britain. There’s a common thread though and it’s that all the bands, like Yard Act, are from Leeds. It’s an accidental Lend Me a Band Leeds special! Here’s what they recommended:
Yard Act recommends The Wind-up Birds
I’d like to shine a light on one of the best bands in the country, one that have never been given even a slither of the respect they deserve. They’re from Leeds and they’re called The Wind-up Birds. They’ve been going for about 20 years and released a ton of great albums and EPs that barely anyone has ever heard. Kroyd [vocalist] has been a huge inspiration on my lyric writing. He was talking about broken Britain in a humorous, harrowing and astute manner long before any of the modern 6 Music groups (ourselves included) got a load of smoke blown up their arse for doing a lesser version of it. Their first album The Land is still the place to start, particularly There Won’t Always Be An England and the song In a Yorkshire Call Centre I Knelt Down and Wept from the EP that preceded it.
The Wind-up Birds recommend Volk Soup
A band I’ve been looking out for since we played with them are Volk Soup (I think they’re from Leeds – that’s where I saw them anyway). Proper raw and exciting. Never knew what they were gonna turn their hands to next. Threw in a Disney tune at one point from what I can remember. Anyway – since then I have been listening to each thing they chuck out (have a listen to Billionaire or I Shot Him and I Ran for a flavour). Feels like they’re gonna do some ace and unexpected stuff in the future. Seek them out. Ta!
Volk Soup recommend Gladboy
Maybe this is narrow minded but I’ll insist on keeping the chain Leeds-based with Gladboy. I could’ve gone for a number of artists from all over the world but I feel it’s fair to say Leeds isn’t accorded the platform that’s given to somewhere like, say, south London, and I’ve got an agenda. Gladboy stand out to me for their literary quality. Few up and coming bands share this ambition, opting to merely make music instead of writing songs. They have a broad sound that has brought to mind early Beefheart, The Make-Up and the soundtrack for Disney’s The Jungle Book. I wouldn’t consider many of our contemporaries as serious artists but Gladboy have the juice.
Gladboy recommend Draags
Anyone who’s spent much time at the socialist co-operative and experimental music hub Wharf Chambers (pictured above) will assure you that Leeds isn’t short of sounds that are irreverent and absurd. But Draags are certainly up there. Named after the blue aliens from Fantastic Planet, they make a freak-funk racket, drawing on hardcore punk, rap, prog and jazz. It shouldn’t really work, but there’s a freedom that makes this band both a joy and a spectacle. They’ve got chops too. Their drummer reminds me of Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier or Kahokiss from Otoboke Beaver, a mess of limbs rushing round the kit and snapping kick pedals like breadsticks. The final twist is that their lead singer is a classically trained Neapolitan opera singer. If Draags can be confined to a discernible style then I haven’t heard it yet.
Draags recommend Kiosk
Kiosk are a Leeds alien artcore punk trio pumping out galactic industrial chiptune. Catch their amazing live shows when they crash land near you. I WANT MY NINTENDO BACK!!
