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Ok, so first off I must iterate the fact that this particular run down is in no particular order, nor is it a definitive list of the best British record labels of all time (as if such a breakdown could ever be truly quantified). It is simply a list of some personal favourites within the British...MORE>>
The Shortwave Set are a band who have experienced success in the British alternative scene, touring with the likes of Goldfrapp and Knarles Barkley.
Since the release of their 2005 album The Debt Collection, The Shortwave Set have an established fan base, being named Zane Lowe’s record of the week certainly helps.
Though well regarded and critically acclaimed, the debut album sales did not match its apparent popularity. The band are currently signed to Wall of Sound Records, a label which boasts such talents as Soulwax and Reverend and the Makers.
Formed in London, The Shortwave Set consists of just three members: Andrew Pettitt (vocals, guitar), Ulrika Bjorsne (vocals, guitar) and David Farrell
(samples, decks). Ulrika is originally from Sweden which could be a reason for the
bands quirky, un-
Glitches and Bugs is a song which is almost as odd as it sounds. It has a psychedelic/electro feel, the vocals swap and change between Pettitt and Ulrika and combine to create an interesting recipe for a unique sound. The percussion is simple, stock drumbeats and the occasional tap on a xylophone gives the track a happy go lucky feel. But this placid sound is somewhat challenged by the electro in the chorus, a slightly more alternative and raw presentation of what The Shortwave Set do best. The bridge is a mellowed out extension of the song in which you could almost imagine a psychedelic sixties band jamming and improvising as they go.
Straightforward and short is probably the best way of describing Glitches and Bugs, but there is something more happening within the track. It is a nod to each end of the spectrum of musical influence: the free experimental nature of the psychedelic, and the power of catchy, repetitive synthetic sounds. In this sense the band seem neither here nor there in terms of their genre, and this could be their strong point. Straddling between different musical genres, The Shortwave Set have created an interesting fashion which, admittedly has been done so many times before, but they just have an edge which gives them a fresh, different, and highly marketable sound.
If you like such bands as The Flaming Lips and Primal Scream, you may enjoy The Shortwave Set. So hard to describe is their style, that I can only recommend listening to them to make up your own mind. Not a reviewing cop out, simply a high quality band who have a clever mix of styles and a bright future.
