Ten Kens' Buy British...

Ten Kens' Buy British...

17 November, 2008
by: Domzig

As Steve put it a few weeks ago, the problem with British bands is that people don't really care about them. This may be unfortunately true over here, but in the US and Canada, the kids can’t get enough of them, and whilst the NME is busy ruining careers after 2 weeks of fame, kids in North American suburbs everywhere are still digging the CDs that you're currently using as tea-coasters.

To prove a point, we asked Canadian indie rockers Ten Kens to tell us who their favorite all-time British bands are.  Playing towering, mind-melting indie rock music that's somewhere between The Blood Brothers, Big Buisness and Morcheeba they’re at at least 90% better than most things we’ve heard this year, and definitely know a thing or two when it comes music.

Radiohead

Listening to Radiohead for the first time, was very similar to losing my virginity.  It was dark and I was a little nervous because I didn't know what to expect.  I tried to understand what was happening but was too excited to make any sense of it.  It felt as good as it did wrong. I had all these strange emotions I had never felt before, yet as unfamiliar as they were, I knew it was something I'd want to feel again and again and again.  And although you know you can never get back to the way you felt that first time, you never stop trying to get there.  It's now 2008, and my torrid love affair with Radiohead does not diminish.  I'm in rainbows. Dan Workman (vocals)

Portishead

I feared that Portishead's 2008 album 'Third' would taint the wonderful memories I had of the powerhouse trip-hop trio. But to my surprise, it was not only incredible, but perhaps one the best albums of the year. They managed to bring their dark and stylish sound into the current musical landscape without abandoning everything we had grown to love about them. The delicate beauty of Beth Gibbons haunting atmospheric voice creeping overtop those patented slow and mezmorizing trip-hop beats is an absolute return to greatness. Dean Tzenos (guitar)

Klaxons

Every time I listen to Klaxons 'Myths Of The Near Future', I can't help but skip ahead to 'Golden Skans'.  There's just something about that song. It's well put together and every part is strong melodically, from the vocal melody and backgrounds to the catchy bass riff in the verse. I still haven't had the opportunity to see them perform live, but look forward to it one day soon. Ryan Roantree (drums)

Squarepusher

I first heard Tom Jenkinson aka, Squarepusher while I was in college.  A friend of mine put on the Chris Cunningham video for 'Come On My Selector' and my initial reaction was, 'this is what I need...I want more.'  Being a bass player I was instantly drawn to Jenkinson's manic riffs.  The bass coupled with the drum programing instantly made for a new appreciation of electronic music.  Squarepusher was my 'gateway drug' to other British electronic artists such as Aphex Twin, Plaid and Boards of Canada, to name just a few. Lee Stringle (bass)

Ten Kens's have a bunch of gigs around London this winter, starting off with an appearance at the Lexington's White Light on the 28th of November and including a visit to the ICA with A Place to Bury Strangers.

For a list of everything else that going on in London, click right here.

Domzig