Fresh Legs
"Math-pop / indie explosions!"
Line Out Audio
Available for gigs
“One of the most exciting unsigned bands on the scene at the moment, their brand of indie punk is setting pulses racing wherever they play.“
Bestival
Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank’s favourite band of the summer and Bestival sensation Fresh Legs follow up on an amazing summer of action-packed gigging, writing and recording with their debut release for Southampton-based indie Sotones Records.
The simplest thing to say about Fresh Legs is that they are kids who make hooky pop music for other kids, which accidentally happens to be intricately written and brilliantly executed enough for math-rockers to get into as well.
Unfortunately that doesn’t really do them justice, because ‘Julian’ is the sound of a very talented group of young musicians. Staccato guitars, hypnotic bass ostinatos and epic fist-pounding prechoruses all variously call to mind Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Vampire Weekend, Colour and even, by way of restless drumming and call-and-response vocals, At The Drive-In.
There’s probably even diminished chords there, whatever they are. But don’t let that fool you – in Fresh Legs’ world, a killer pop hook is never far away, all delivered with wit and passion by live-wire vocalist Ella Sullivan. Her delivery – at once detatched and statuesque, monolithic even – is also drenched in emotion, reminiscent not just of Karen O but also classic explosive performers like Debbie Harry or Siouxie Sioux as she alternately croons, yelps, screams or spits her tales of young love and lust, abandoned days and bruised nights in Southampton’s decaying docklands.
Southampton gig and club-goers have known that Fresh Legs were something special since early 2008, when the energetic four-piece blew audiences away supporting fellow indie-pop gems Thomas Tantrum. Championed by Thomas Tantrum, support slots for Fight Like Apes and Blood Red Shoes followed.
London began to take notice, and their recording debut ‘Chess’ was released earlier this year on Fierce Panda imprint Cool For Cats. The record attracted national attention on BBC 6Music and Radio 1. R1 DJ Rob da Bank took the band to his heart, and a personal Bestival invitation followed. The band soon found themselves plunged into a hectic series of summer gigs including a prime slot on the main stage at Southsea Fest.
Instead of resting on their laurels – and inspired by the relentless pace of the summer’s events – the band somehow managed to squeeze in sessions for Line Out Audio, who approached Sotones. They leapt at the chance to release the record.
Sotones director Joe Parker said: “We’re over the moon that Fresh Legs have decided to work with us. These are the kind of records we formed to put out – we can’t wait till people get switched on to Fresh Legs.”
Fresh Legs’ producer Dan Parry said: “Recording the EP was a rollercoaster; we’ve all worked hard to bring the record together in such a short space of time – the new songs speak for themselves, and Ella’s vocals are a quantum leap forward.”
Tracklisting:
- Julian
- Sexy So Sexy
- Cinnamon Away
- Organs Black
Contact: martyn@mixedtapeagency.co.uk
