His band’s formula combines discordant punk riffs, inharmonious pop melodies and rhythmic swing-beat rhythms producing a generally "rickety and retarded" sound. The patented, twisted Mower sound was originated when child prodigy Matt witnessed the brutal cross breeding between a rottweiler and a hamster. It is, then, no surprise that Matt’s first song was entitled "Forcing a frankfurter through the eye of a needle". Matt soon found two other like-minded musicians… Mower was born.

In spring 20003, Mower completed a successful and eventful 20-date UK tour with British Sea Power. On tour:

1) Both bands broke into Nottingham Castle at 3am after a show and sat on the top to watch the sunrise before getting caught by the groundsmen. A certain hallucinogenic substance may have been involved.

2) In Newcastle, the two bands had a busking competition with Matt Mower winning the day by receiving a stagggering £10.53 with his rendition of 'I Am A Cheeky Boy', while BSP managed a not unimpressive £6.20 for their own Russian language version of Tatu's 'You're Not Going To Get Us'

3) Matt Mower has been jumping in the air & landing on his knees so much in the 'After Dark' solo that he's knackered them. By the end of the tour both him & The BSP singer had acquired leg injuries by generally cavorting around & consequently they both had to limp on stage every night until the adrenalin kicked in.

The young London scamps have completed recording their new album, full of songs of lust, casual sex, regret, drugs (good and bad), and anger at a world on the brink of war - a snapshot diary of singer Matt Motte's life over the last year.

"'After Dark' is about the lust that occurs before a one night stand, ' says Matt.

Matt, described by NME as "something special" and "captivating - if slightly demented", is joined by metal drummer John, and teenager Nash on bass - the coolest girl bass player since Suzi Quatro/Kim Gordon. The band spent a week partying with The Hiss, then set off for Brighton for a headline gig that drew a sell out crowd including Electric Soft Parade, 80's Matchbox B-Line Disaster, British Sea Power, and The Black Madonnas, and led to another 2 day party.

The album was produced by Stephen Street (Smiths/Idlewild/Promise Ring) for Transcopic Records (Graham Coxon, Billy Childish & The Buff Medways) at Primrose Hill’s legendary Mayfair Studios in late November 2002 and completed at Westside Studios, Shepherds Bush in Jan 2003. Nash says "Stephen Street was so brilliant to work with. He just got us to dig deeper than ever!"

The album sees songwriter, Matt, honing his skills to perfection. Mat cites his 60’s musical heroes (Brian Wilson, Ray Davies) as the inspiration that kick-started his song-writing bout. He locked himself away to write an album from scratch that reflected his frame-of-mind. The finished album combines the wash of melody and the free spirited, bluesy approach of these heroes to tell the raw truths of life in London, as well as acknowledging Mower's love of US punk like Nirvana, and Pixies. It boasts plenty of variety ranging from the break-neck blues-punk of 'After Dark' and 'The Morning After' to the Kinksy song-writing charm of 'Just Say No' and the acclaimed single of last year 'Rest in Peace', to the classic Black Sabbath fug of 'Wake up Mower'.

Matt Motte: "This album’s very personal to me. It’s a document of times and places and experiences - all my thoughts and feelings over the last year."

Debut album 'People Are Cruel' is released on August 4th.

Photos by Adie Nunn.