BRITISH SEA POWER
Press release
31 October 2003

*Top 30 single.
*US tour opens to critical acclaim.
*Kings Of Leon reconstruct historic naval vessel.

With their Remember Me single currently at number 30 in the UK national
Top 40, British Sea Power continue to take their “high-church amplified
rock music” around the world with a victorious tour of North America.

The current BSP tour of the United States and Canada has has been named
Operation Hardtack and is intended as a mission to bring art and
enlightenment to our culture-starved friends across the ocean. And,
judging by the reaction to the tour, the American folks are surely
grateful.

The British Sea Power US dates began with a Rough Trade Records night
on 23 October at New York’s Bowery Ballroom, also featuring The Kills,
Adam Green and The Fiery Furnaces. Reviews in the American press
testify to a premium performance from British Sea Power.

The New York Post: "Believe the hype. British Sea Power conquered all
at Thursday's Bowery Ballroom gig, when the keyboardist/drummer emerged
banging a marching-band bass drum and wearing a WWII helmet draped with
leaves. The band's sound veered from punk to gorgeously layered art
rock."

The Village Voice: “British Sea Power blow them all out of their water
with their aggressive mix of glam rock and new wave. “

British Sea Power’s North American tour has continued with sold-out and
well-received shows in Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, seasoned chart observers have been struck by the strange
currents running through this week’s UK singles charts. For while BSP
stand at number 30, the Kings Of Leon single Wasted Time was washed
ashore at a puzzling number 51. We can only hope that the Tennessee
band recover strongly from this perplexing chart position. One theory
is that they were distracted by debate over secession from the Union
and new taxes on beef jerky. The bearded youngsters have also been hard
at work making sure that the ironclad Merrimac is ready to take them
over for their UK dates in December.

Will The Kings Of Leon soon be adding their voice to the British Sea
Power jamwagon? Certainly, it seems that almost everyone else is. BSP
have traditionally attracted a varied array of admirers, including
Jeremy Vine, Jarvis Cocker, Douglas Coupland, Jon Savage, Wayne Coyne,
Bayern Munich footballer Bixente Lizarazu and Mike Peters from The
Alarm. Now, reports have reached us of a whole new selection of equally
tantalising BSP aficionados. The former Olympic swimming champ Duncan
Goodhew and the best-selling crime writer Ian Rankin have both declared
an interest. However, the most bizarre BSP-celebrity interface came
when Emma Atkins, who plays feisty Charity Dingle in Emmerdale, was
seen carrying a signed copy of a Remember Me CD (at which point, we
have to say that we can confirm this without the slightest doubt). On a
perhaps less surprising note, Bill Oddie phoned the band’s headquarters
to congratulate them on “the excellent array of raptor silhouettes” on
the group’s album artwork. Mr Oddie has also confirmed his intention to
work with the band in the near future.

All inspirational stuff, but BSP attained their most glorious
achievement yet with inclusion in the current edition of the revered
humorous website/newspaper known as The Onion. Please see BSP coverage
at the following URL:

http://www.theonionavclub.com/3942/justify.html

We must look forward with confidence to British Sea Power’s November
dates in England and Wales. Many have remarked on the joy that the
giant BSP bear Ursine Ultra brought to the recent show at London’s
University Of London Union. Even now, we are checking on this awesome
creature’s availability for future stage appearances.