THEN THICKENS

Although they’re a 6 piece indie band from the middle of nowhere (sorry Chorley but let’s face facts) Then Thickens are already making quite the blip on the music industry’s radar, having had airplay from BBC introducing, Kerrang!, Amazing Radio, a tour supported by Vice, and a whimsical video starring Joe ‘Woody from This Is England’ Gilgun. Oh, and they’re currently touring with label mates Nine Black Alps and had early support from legendary punk band The Bronx. Rather than being merely another hype band or merely ‘the next Biffy Clyro,’ Then Thickens have earnt all this by writing wonderfully crafted scuzzy pop music, something that washes over you with a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’.

If I may, I’d hazard that this element arises from lead man Jon-Lee Martin, whose previous band Kong was a frighteningly loud and manic masked group that terrorised many a venue with their exhilarating live show. Assisted by former members of Rolo Tomassi and being released on Hatch Records (master minded by the same people behind the recently departed Brew Records) the diverse history of Then Thickens highlights that although the tone may have calmed, they still now how to write the sort of music that will arrest you on the spot and force you to pay attention. The distortion pedals have been lowered to a fuzz, giving Martin’s mastership of melody a chance to shine and helping to mould a record you can sing along until your lungs get sore. The video’s pretty funny too, lovely.

Words by David McDonald

Tipped by Stuart James Box from Picturesound