More old crap: Manchester bands to watch in 2011

*most of these no longer exist*

Here's some of the best new bands making their way out of Manchester this year.


Plank!

Plank! are one of the most interesting bands in Manchester right now. Heavily influenced by the Krautrock movement but with a diverse range of other sounds thrown into the mix, they mostly play instrumental music, each track building up to create a delightful noise. Imagine Mogwai doing Can covers. Now forget that and imagine Battles doing Led Zep covers. Now forget that and listen to the track below. Layers of guitar are piled on top of each other using a loop station while bass and drums create a rhythm that could be described as hypnotic.

After a couple of years of being Manchester's best kept secret Plank! are starting to get some recognition, having been played on BBC 6 Music and other stations, and have now released a couple of EPs.


Golden Glow

Pierre Hall has been ever present in the Manchester scene over the last few years, seemingly appearing at every gig featuring a local band. Poet, promoter and musician, his most recent project is Golden Glow, a gloriously lo-fi effort which has been getting great reviews on both sides of the Atlantic.


Driver Drive Faster

Formed from the ashes of Polytechnic, it's very hard to describe why Driver Drive Faster are a much better band. It's still indie rock, but something is different, and I've not been able to put my finger on it. Maybe it's just better songs, maybe they're tighter, I've no idea. Listen:


Beat The Radar

I'd previously been unaware of Beat The Radar until I saw their set at the Friends of Manchester festival, where they put in a high energy set which was one of the best of the day - raw and a bit intense, with a packed out room.

During the process of researching this hub I found out that not only had I met them before, I was very nearly in their video as an extra (an epic hangover meant we arrived just as they were finishing!).


The Louche FC

The Louche FC are a three piece who sound like a cross between an American high school prom band and early My Bloody Valentine. If that sounds a bit mental then it should. There's something a bit subversive about adding so much noise to what would otherwise be slices of pop.


Further listening

Manchester wakes up every morning with a few more bands in residence, so there's always something new. Check out http://www.akoustikanarkhy.co.uk/ for some brand new bands and a few overlooked gems. I'd also recommend a band called The Random Project but I'm somewhat biased on that one....