Waiting for answers from Late of the Pier

Their album hit the music industry in 2008 like an electric shock. As weird as a deep sea creature and as vibrant as a summer days viewed through an LSD trip. However, what drew people to them most was their electro-thrash sound which was something which had never been heard before.

Fantasy Black Channel was an amalgamation of spaced out synths, thrashing guitar notes and wild keyboard wails whipping up a whirlwind of sound that sends the listener into the stratospheric void, which encompasses everything that Late of the Pier are about. Their characters only deepen the obsession that their fans have with them due to their odd charm, seen in many video interviews which usually collapse into a chaotic scene of a mad hatters tea party.

The live Late of the Pier experience mirrors this topsy turvy style, sound and demeanour. Sam Eastgate is a modern day Puck leaping around the stage emphatically, keeping the audience on their toes with his crazed sprite-like movements. Late of the Pier are a whole package and unsurprisingly as a result fans have been waiting on tenterhooks for a new instalment of the Late of the Pier space saga.

Rumours have been rife about arguments within the band and a possible break up. However in the last 3 months we were offered two new tracks, Blueberry which was released in December last year which gave us a tantalising glimpse into the summer which everyone has been feverishly yearning for. Blueberry features the typical David Bowie- esque vocals and screeching synths that encapsulate what Fantasy Black Channel offered us. The song culminates into a wild, ecstatic cacophony of mess that throws listeners into the crazed fun that Late of the Pier offered to the music industry in neon splashed wrapping paper. Blueberry was a song that Late of the Pier fans would expect to hear

Best in Class which was released on the 1st March shows a more playful side to Late of the Pier fitting in with the lyric, “you need to loosen up”. Playful plinks of xylophone keyboard effects hop along the song creating the beat. The video plays on this playfulness as it opens showing myspace- recruited girls ring a roseying around a camera. There are no drums within this song. It is created purely by electronic instruments, making the space age feel of the music even stronger. Late of the Pier are still making songs for the future. However, still from the same period that their other music emerged from. My criticism is that Late of the Pier have not developed since Fantasy Black Channel, although there is yet to be a word from the band that there even is a new album on the way. These singles could merely be red herrings.

Until a release date for a new album is spoken from the tight lipped Late of the Pier fans can look forward to the upcoming side project from front man Sam Eastgate. This project will feature Sam as part of a double act, the other member is yet to be announced however Sam has said himself that both he and the other member are keen drummers. This project should be seen in England after it is premiered in live form during a tour through Japan.

- Millie Corbould