It's not cool to be an art band. Or clever. 'Pretentious shite,' people mutter, then laugh, then get back to lager in hand. But British Sea Power don't do stunt sunglasses, swagger or singalong loveliness.
Instead they run Club Sea Power, a monthly variety show freak-out ub their adopted hometown, Brighton. Their website points visitors in the direction of Czech literature and the band ask to be called Hamilton, Wood, Noble and Jan. They wear scratchy wool Royal Navy trousers, deploy plastic bird decoys and chunks of tree on stage, and are very, very good at staring. "We're trying to look military, but decommissioned," says singer Jan (and brother of bassist Hamilton).
Visually, BSP are excitement writ thick; musically, second single 'Remember Me' has big, slashing guitars recalling Joy Division and speed-gobbing indie as readily as Jan's twitchy dance and boggle eyes.
The rest of their live set portends an LP of epic/intricate art-rock as impressive as the antlers stuck to Wood's drumkit. BSP say their main strength is imagination. "We're willing to take chances." Are you willing to be laughed at? "I don't mind that!" says Jan, with the cheerful look of a man with long experience of public ridicule.'
