On the radar: Indian Red Lopez

Published on 04/09/2009 14:59

Play: Ropes »

Chances are you'll have heard of Peterhead either because it's Europe's largest white fish port, or because it has one of Britain's largest prisons for sex offenders.

What you might not know is that it's also a breeding ground for some very exciting music. Indian Red Lopez (IRL), who take their name from the film Sleepers, got together in their current line-up last November and released their debut EP Castles Incomplete earlier this year.

Produced by the Fence Collective's On The Fly, in what few reviews the EP has had there have already been comparisons to the solo work of Thom Yorke.

Straight from the off with opener 'Ropes' - already one of the finest songs of this year - you'll have your mind haunted by the voice of singer Michael Chang. It's backed up by great tunes, clever lyrics and top class musicianship.

Under the Radar: showcasing the best new music in Scotland

The band cite their influences as everything from Joy Division, The National and King Creosote to derelict buildings and open skies. Chang says they can be inspired by "the simplest, sometimes trivial things to people and places we love. It's an all encompassing thing really, from everything to nothing."

IRL are also firm believers in giving their punters a show. You can expect visuals, projectors, original artwork. "It's a necessary compulsion," Chang says. "Because we love music, and we love art, and we love film and literature, we have always wanted to combine our ideas in these various mediums and be creative. We're all naturally quite creative people and enjoy taking different ideas from different mediums and creating one idea from them, expressed in a variety of forms."

They'll soon be leaving Aberdeenshire and playing more gigs in the Central Belt, as well as recording more tracks in the next few months. They also have gigs in London, France and Holland to look forward to, so expect big things from Peterhead's latest claim to fame.

Like what you hear? Watch IRL live at the following gigs:

21 Sep and 25 Sep @ Cafe Drummonds, Aberdeen

4 Oct @ The Greenside, Glenrothes

5 Oct @ Bloc, Glasgow

6 Oct @ The GRV, Edinburgh

7 Oct @ Death Disco, London