"I'll keep on building these ships ‘till they get me the hell out of here" - Matchsticks

A Leave The Capital biography begs for explanations of trauma, and inspirations of long lost love. Yet when quizzed for their influences and convictions, the answer given is certainly unexpected. They simply put it down to “Old flames and Friday nights.”

The jovial response says a lot about Leave The Capital’s casual attitude to the impending success lurking around the corner, but belies a band that treats the music they write with the utmost seriousness.

Comparisons with fellow expansionists Doves, Elbow and Interpol have brought the band a healthy following in their hometown of Cardiff . Yet while they share the grand ambition of Doves and the subtle tendencies of Elbow, Leave The Capital have a sound that is distinctly their own.

Musically, they draw on much more diverse influences such as Sigur Ros, Pink Floyd and Wilco, while the swirling mix of lost and found noises that undercuts their sound has more to do with the production methods of Four Tet or Bjork. All this comes together to form a sound that can be both delicate and intense, but always compelling.

Support slots with Kasabian, Kaiser Chiefs and Editors coupled with airplay from Radio 1 DJs Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq and XFM's John Kennedy has seen the band pick up a great deal of respect, with record companies and publishers from both sides of the Atlantic expressing keen interest in the band in recent months.

In 2006, the band turned down an offer to play at the SXSW festival in Texas in order to concentrate on writing a new batch of songs in their recently complete self-built studio. The new songs, with titles like Sleeping Pill, Amelie and Take Cover tell tales of heartbreak and regret, glory and ambition; and while they share the typical fragile stance of Leave the Capital, they offer glimpses of change, seeing Leave The Capital explore different depths of unrivalled hope and hysteria.

Leave The Capital are:

Ben James: Vocals/ guitars
Chris Collins: Guitars/ vocals
Adam Turbervill: Keys/ vocals
Tosh Evans: Bass
Tom Evans: Drums

Info:

www.leavethecapital.com
www.myspace.com/leavethecapital