The Sunshine Underground

Taking their name from a track of the same on the Chemical Brothers' 1999 album 'Surrender', The Sunshine Underground, the Leeds based 4-piece, have under gone a recent surge in popularity, have released their second album on the 1st of the month.

When the band released their debut album, 'Raise the Alarm' in August 2006, the band were given huge amounts of positive press coverage, especially from the likes of the NME, but were however lazily labelled as part of the Nu Rave' scene that was developing at the time.

Far different to the likes of the Klaxons and CSS, who took much more influence from dance music than the Sunshine Underground ever did, instead creating an indie, punk guitar driven, with drum and bass parts that allowed their music to be played out in night clubs and ensue dancing.

Taking their influence from the likes of the Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses, the results are similar to that of Kasabian, with an almost punk/dance flavour.

The band's music is really driving force, but what really makes their songs work is front man Craig Wellington's vocals, which quite simply take their songs to another level, with a voice that allows the audience to sing a long at the top of their voices, a very powerful voice indeed, and this has continued onto their new album, 'Nobody's Coming to Save You'.

Opening their set with the first single to be taken from the new album, 'Coming to Save You', proved to be a highlight, however, with much of the sell out audience only been able to have a day's listening to the new record, they could have perhaps opened with a song more fitting from their previous album.

However, the band pushed on from this, treating to fans to a selection of songs both new and old that resulted in a very crowd pleasing set, with much of the audience dancing and jumping around, singing along to every word they knew.

The singles from the previous album, 'Borders', 'Commercial Breakdown', and the fantastic 'Put You in Your Place' all received the biggest cheers of the night, but my personal highlight, was 'We've Always Been Your Friends', taken from the new album, and soon to be released as a single.

A chorus easy to remember and sing along to, with funk based guitars and really a driven performance made it all sound fantastic.

The band will certainly be around playing the festivals again this summer no doubt, having been well received the last time they played the major bunch, and this summer will be no different. They write the kind of songs, almost 'anthems', that soundtrack your summer, and it's no doubt you'll hear their songs plastered all over the place over the coming months.

FUTURE GIGS

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