Kubichek!

Dominated by an aggressive but tuneful guitar sound and songs that deal with the search for transcendence over the annoyances of daily life, Kubichek! are a British indie rock band whose first album, 2007's Not Enough Night, was one of the best-received debuts of the year. Kubichek! were formed in 2004 after the breakup of the regionally popular Newcastle band Parklandsway the year before, with former members Alan McDonald on vocals and guitar, bassist Michael Coburn (aka Frog), and drummer Chris McGreevy teaming with a new guitarist, Mark Nelson. McDonald and McGreevy were working day jobs when they met Frog through a newspaper ad and formed Parklandsway, and the indignities of blue-collar labor informed the new group's songs as well as giving them a strong work ethic that kept the band busy on the northern club circuit. Bound by a shared enthusiasm for Mogwai, Primal Scream, Sigur Rós, and Fugazi, Kubichek!'s forceful music and energetic live show earned them a passionate fan following, and in 2005 they released a pair of singles, "Nightjoy" b/w "Stutter" and "Taxi" b/w "Red Tape," for Fantastic Plastic Records. Kubichek! were courted by the Kitchenware label, but ultimately released only a split single with the Mototettes for the label before opting instead to sign with the rising indie company 30:30 Recordings. Kubichek!'s first single for 30:30, "Outwards" b/w "Barriers," was released near the end of 2006, and their first full-length album, Not Enough Night, followed in March 2007.