If there's one thing that's going to stifle talent and kill music in this country it's industry scrums before a band has even had time to mature in any way. The blame could lie at the feet of MySpace, message boards or just the immediacy of the internet as a whole, but whatever has led the entire music industry (and its friends) to the Water Rats tonight, it needs taming.
Los Campesinos! are seven students who study in Cardiff and play ever-so-slightly twee indie-pop that comes replete with an air of Godspeed and The Arcade Fire. As far as simple descriptions go, that's probably enough to get a good many individuals salivating. Where the band excel, though, is in their knack of writing impressive hooks and melodic sweeps that belie the few months they've been together.
Conversely, of course, this is where we lose our intrepid Campesinos. You see, for all the songwriting prowess in the world, this band just isn't ready to enjoy this amount of exposure. National press, A&R folk glassing each other for a slice of the 'relationship building' - it all doesn't quite add up.
Yet.
Los Campesinos! are charming, attractive and above all have the potential to become something very special. Right now, though, I just wish they'd be given a little more room to grow, at least so they can write something that equals 'You Me Dancing'.
Photo: Nick Ross
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A bit of realism. Good band with great potential, but they aren't ready yet. Soon though, very soon.
exactly
my thoughts. well put mr roberts.
I agree with this
I was disappointed, but thats not to say it still wasn't comparatively excellent to 95% of anything else around right now. Give these guys a chance people!
erm, well
that's kinda exactly what my last paragraph says.
I agree with all of the above...
.. but if you were an a&r man, you'd be going after them wouldn't you? Better than a 7 too...
Since when..
is Cardiff in the West Country?
:-|
lol @ "west country"
good review though.
he clearly meant
the country that is to the West of England.
It's geographers slang.
*run Colin!*
Hello
I think the review's spot on. Technically, it was probably our worst performance to date, but we had fun...
All the hype stuff is very silly, and there's no way we or anyone could justify it, so in some ways i guess it was good to be a bit shit at this early stage...the attention and 'buzz' is lovely, we're stupidly lucky, but hopefully it won't overshadow what we're doing...which is hopefully not just writing an album full of 'Y!M!D!-ings'...
Thanks so much to everyone that came
Hey Tom
I also think hype can be a very dangerous thing, though obviously has its merits as well.
I think the thing that has to be focused on is the song writing or just how good the songs are in general. i think you guys are one of the freshest sounding bands I have heard for a long time. You've got great songs, which are incredibly well constructed. Playing live and becoming tighter as a band will undoubtedly come over time. I don't think you've got anything to worry about, and nothing will overshadow what you are doing, because you guys do possess raw talent.
P.s can't wait to play on Saturday at Dempseys, is gonna be superb. take it easy
Well, I enjoyed it.
Sure it wasn't especially tight and it was pretty clear that there had been too many Los Campesinos gigs to date but, far more importantly, it looked like everyone in the band was having fun and that's far more important than being tight or polished or whatever.
So sure it was a bit shambolic but I thought that was part of the charm.
Good point!!
here here, I totally agree. Being able to omit charm and personality and be sincere with it is very rare and a delightful thing to see. It's also only something that can happen naturally.
That's what makes gigs fun! Keep on rocking
we love you
because you are genuine. this is hard to find. i mean we were a little jealous cause we've been playing gigs non stop for a year or 2 (and for princess p 3!) and its taken us ages to get better and the industry have always been this illusive pack of people that we seem to scare. and we listened to youron radio 1 on the way home ''ohh mannn...they're everywhere...'
So you go for it Los Campers, you cant control the hype. not your problem if people want to big you up and then say you weren't as good as all that, then whatever. just do your thang like you do your thang. it rocks big time. great to meet you and good luck! royal treatment plant xx
you me dancing
equals greatest track since national anthem
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