THE beep seals

The lowly backing band can take heed in the comfort that they’re ‘living the dream’ without the cushion of any major success, and are likely to receive a patronising aside in the review coverage to the tune of, “…All held together adequately by his non-descript backing.” Yeah, awesome…So, where Coxon had Stuffy and The Fuses, and Badly Drawn Boy had, uh, Haven, psych-popster Jim Noir threw his leftovers to The Beep Seals. Some bands just head left and put together a ‘super group’ (take tonight’s debutantes, The See See, who comprise members of The Soledad Brothers, The Eighteenth Day of May and Mojave 3), The Beep Seals meanwhile, have waved goodbye to Noir and his copy of Pet Sounds to take on the world alone. Good for them. Beep Seal vocalist Jack Cooper is a man who knows his way around a song. In a similar vein to Londoner Nick Armstrong, Cooper has something very retro sixties about his songwriting. Once, a perfectly engaging solo artist, he and fellow Seals have moulded and sculpted their own widescreen psychedelic opus, on a trip much travelled by Flaming Lips and their ilk. Debut single, “Tell Your Friends”, released through pals Polytechnic’s Kings and Creatures label earlier this month, is a jaunty and jangly guitar tune, washed with the sound only a warm analogue recording could make (or a damn fine imitation). It has uber-backward producer Liam Watson’s stamp all over, and a lovely tune it is too. Live it is thoroughly endearing and a great indicator of how The Beep Seals play with the influence of The Beatles, channel it through Wayne Coyne’s mind, and spin it out via Brian Wilson’s book of harmony. Tonight’s finest however, is reserved for ‘She Sells Seashells’, a dizzyingly catchy ode to the pitfalls of the snow (or least, alludes to), and is all simple melodies but so exquisitely delivered, leaving us gagging for another rout through the chorus. “I Used To Work At The Zoo” meanwhile is a zany, swirling stomp that flips to The Beep Seals’ darker but no less melodious side. It’s a short set, but hey, in the grand scheme of things, this is a new band shovelling their wonderfully toned and crafted sixties-vibed tunes. Sometimes it takes one Ginster’s pasty to the mainman’s cordon bleu to push things too far, leading you away with your dignity and dreams still intact. The Beep Seals have a whole new journey to travel, and the only spotlight that shines will be aimed broadly over all five members.