Arthur Beatrice

There is a dynamic intensity to Arthur Beatrice

, which is exemplified by their relative anonymity.  Often it would seem, they hide behind their collective name, and that of their own label, Open Assembly , in a similar way to most “new and exciting” bands. It would be important to ask then, what is “new and exciting” about that if everyone is doing the same thing? No, Arthur Beatrice are nothing like the loud-mouthed, sometimes ostentatious indie rockers of Oasis. Rather, somewhat stereotypically they prefer to “concentrate on the music”. And yet, this focus is proving fruitful.

Last October, they claimed “there’s nothing to buy as we’ve not made anything worth selling as yet.” Given that they have released one 12″ showcasing Midland, and have another on the horizon featuring Charity and Not Without Thinking, it would seem their mindset has changed somewhat considerably.
The band line up as Orlando Sheppard (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, organ), Ella Girardot (lead vocals, keyboards, organ), Elliot Barnes (drums, backing vocals) and Hamish Barnes (bass, backing vocals). On both Midland and Not Without Thinking, Girardot’s vocal shines impressively, sparking comparisons to Harriet Wheeler of The Sundays. When singing, Orlando often sounds a lot like Morrissey of The Smiths, but it is Ella’s voice remains most impressive. On Midland, it darts around the minor scale with elegance, complimented by the minimalist backing. Then, as the guitars and keyboards come in, the “pop” in indie pop is highlighted, with light, staccato rhythms that make it hard not to dance just a little bit.  When these rhythms return, the vocal goes an octave higher for its deserved encore; cue more foot-tapping.

For a band that hasn’t been around for all that long, they are making famous friends quickly, having supported Beach House during their June tour of France, whilst also boasting gigs with Metronomy and The Antlers to their name. Continuing with the theme of performance, they seem to have an endearing knack of presenting their shows with a subtle exclusivity, starting themselves a catalytic buzz, of which this article is only a part. This is masterminded under the guise of Open Assembly, their own label which hosts small, “one-off” shows (featuring AB as the centrepiece), along with other acts chosen by the band themselves.

Arthur Beatrice join a long line of buzz bands for the first half of 2012, and together with the likes of M O N E Y

, Δ (alt-j) , MSMR , Eddi Front and HAIM , the second half looks as if there are some incredibly exciting releases due.

Those of you London-based can catch Arthur Beatrice on 23rd July at The Lexington, supported by the magnificent G R E A T W A V E S

, a recession-busting £5.70 if you buy in advance .