Music

Tell us who you think is an unfairly neglected band, and why

It makes us despair, it really does. Our favourite bands, whose songs should be on everyone’s lips and who should be packing out venues twice the size of Terminal 5, are ignored for others who make mortgage-driven, emotionally retarded, knuckle-dragging music, like Nickelback. Take the mighty Elbow. For too long they’ve been also-rans, chucked in with bedwetters by HMV display professionals in spite of making tough, phosphorescent soul music under the leadership of Guy Garvey, a shaggy-dog dreamboat of a frontman.

That was the case until recently. Elbow celebrated 18 years (‘we overtook Pulp last year,’ chuckles Guy) by releasing their new album, ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’. It went Top Five and the band, after chipping gently away at UK hearts, finally got their license to be big time. Not only does this disprove what the music of Manic Street Preachers suggests – that longevity and quality can’t co-exist. Elbow, simply because they’ve never had much, also show that money (both the seeking and mismanagement of) is why more successful bands haven’t lasted.

‘It’s like divorce with bands,’ says Guy. ‘ ’Cos there’s money involved and your lawyer says, “As your lawyer I have to advise you to be a complete cunt.” You wouldn’t believe how many people have phoned and asked me, “How do you separate your publishing?” They want to know how we’ve kept it together for 18 years.’ They split it all evenly, by the way.

In the wake of Elbow’s recent bloom, then, we’ve come up with a thousand other bands that Time Out think deserve, or deserved, the same justice meted out to Guy’s lot. To name just a few: Laptop, Momus, 1990s, Clipse…

But Garvey is a man of refined tastes – ‘I went through a phase of listening to the In paradisums from requiem masses because the theory is that it has to be the most beautiful piece a composer ever writes’. And, as a DJ for 6Music, he’s used to unearthing neglected bands. So we’ve entrusted him with the job of telling us which other underrated acts should join Elbow at the top of the tree.

Like Lou Reed? Try The Cranebuilders
‘I first heard Tommy [Roberts] playing in Night & Day ten years ago. Tommy and Helen, who do vocals, are a couple and their music is just so touching. They are post-industrial Liverpool. He’s got this brooding, sort of Leonard Cohen quality to the way he writes and sings.

I love them so much that I joined Skinny Dog Records to help them out. Hopefully one day it’ll make money for everybody involved but, generally speaking, it’s just a collective. You can still get records out there for bands who perhaps only 10,000 people in every country will ever love, but that’s enough for a living.’

Like, um, Elbow? Try I Am Kloot
‘They headline festivals in Germany; it’s just this country that doesn’t get them. It’s tempting to think that the press looks at them thinking: "Dunno where to put ’em, let’s ignore them for a bit", which is preposterous. There are so many factors but I think in Kloot’s case it’s just fucking bad luck. They’ve been on the receiving end – they got a great deal with the wrong label initially. Plus they do it old school. They’re not willing to run up hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of debt. The days of record advances are running out and Kloot have managed to sustain themselves for over a decade. It’s extraordinary that they’re not massive because John [Bramwell] is one of the best songwriters in the country.’

Like Beth Orton? Try Nancy Elizabeth
‘She needs more attention. She’s just very free. She’s often classed as folk, but I think that’s daft. It’s got such universal appeal, unless I’ve become a total folkie and I haven’t noticed. But I guess there’s nothing wrong with that these days. Not since it’s been dragged kicking and screaming out of the hands of pissed Irishmen. Fucking hell, society’s always needed its folk music. I think “The Eraser” by Thom Yorke is a folk record.’

Like The Black Keys? Try Mississippi Witch
‘Our guitarist Mark discovered The Black Keys for me: “Listen to this!” he was going. In a similar vein, there’s a London band, Mississippi Witch who are fucking outrageously cool, with a terrific drummer. Check out “Just For Roosevelt”. It’ll blow your ’ead off.’

Like Joanna Newsom? Try Jesca Hoop
‘She was Tom Waits’ nanny and he loves her music. I don’t know which came first, he loved her music and she ended up being nanny for the kids, or the other way round. But she’s great. Check out “Havoc In Heaven”, which is loosely based on the monkey’s journey to the West. It’s more Joanna Newsom-esque in its mystical storytelling but she’s got a really brave tone. No two songs sound the same. I wouldn’t say anything I like would put anyone on edge. You might not like it, but you might not like it like you might not like tiramisu, not a dog shit in your hand.’

Elbow play Brixton Academy on April 15.

Tell us who you think is an unfairly neglected band, and why