Late of the Pier

Based in Castle Donington and formed by 16- and 17-year-olds in 2004, Late of the Pier are an indie electro band unique to their scene and one that is incredibly difficult to pinpoint. Complex but utterly danceable, with songs laced with dirty bass, synths, and video game SFX, the most common reference point is the Klaxons, but comparisons have been made to artists all over the genre map, from Prince to Frank Zappa to the Human League. In complete D.I.Y. fashion, the four-piece started making bedroom recordings and released its 14-track Zarcorp Demo as a free Internet download. In a limited pressing of 500 copies, Way Out Records released the band's first 12", Space and the Woods, in March of 2007. Six months later, Moshi Moshi released 500 copies of the group's second single, Bathroom Gurgle. After setting up their own label, Zarcorp, Late of the Pier made plans to release their third 12", The Bears Are Coming, independently. Another single followed in 2008, a double A-side titled Space and the Woods/Focker, and the band gained some momentum opening up for the Kaiser Chiefs on a U.K. tour before its debut album, Fantasy Black Channel, was officially released by Astralwerks in July of 2008.