Longsands - Little Britain

by Dave Goodwin

published: 9 / 3 / 2013

Label: Unknown Soldier Records
Format: CDS

Fantastic Mod-influenced new single from acclaimed Newcastle band, the Longsands

Review

In 2009 the Newcastle-based five piece the Longsands recorded their debut album ‘Meet Me In Spanish City’ with producer Fred Purser. They soon afterwards started performing nationwide after being invited by Bruce Foxton to be main support for From the Jam’s winter tour which in turn brought with it a whole host of press, media and radio coverage. The Longsands were tipped to be one of the most important bands of the coming decade and, in just twelve gigs whilst performing to over ten thousand new fans, they were inundated with messages of support from the onlooking Jam faithful. 2010 was a huge year for the band. Two self-penned singles and two UK tours culminated in a sold-out Sage Gateshead homecoming, and later saw them commissioned to record the Newcastle United walk-on tune. They went on to perform at Radio One where they met Chris Moyles and Jo Whiley, and, after winning the national unsigned competition Band Republic, they were invited to record and work with producer Andy Macpherson. The group consists of damn fine bass guitarist Gary Ormstonid; Paul Stephenson behind the drum kit; David Stanyer with his biting shards of glorious lead guitar; rhythm guitarist, writer and manager Ian Barnes and the band’s arterial heartbeat and splendid lead singer, Trevor Cox. The Longsands are right here in 2013, and much the better for it with this single radio edit of just under five minutes, which has come out on Unknown Soldier Records. Cox sings in great style about life in Britain today. Blasting anthemic tunes such as this one share feelings us normal folk experience every day of our lives at the minute, on the street, in the news, in the pub, in our personal lives, things that matter to us all. It starts with a military style drum beat, but quickly slides into echoes of the Jam and the wonderful Secret Affair with its lovely Mod-ish overtones. The B sides are 'An Affair in Manchester', which tells the story of a loyal boy proud of his heritage but yearning to seek other things, and an instrumental of the title track . This album highlights some of our government's brilliant ideas over the last few years to help us all in to poverty and crime and bad habits. According to 'The People', the Longsands are a "Newcastle band set to be huge." No shit? According to this Pennyblack writer, "I thought they already were..."