Neu No Ceremony

: No Ceremony
Based: Manchester, UK
Listen at: noceremony.com/ears
Similar to: Stay+

In between the first time First On was sent No Ceremony’s music and today, a cloud of suspicion has gradually risen and we’ve come to accept the anonymity of the band. At first, the promo images and debut track suggested a pretentious, unsubstantial extension from the Wu Lyf, Christian AIDS (Stay+) crowd. Several bloggers were quick to spark excitement; several others were careful to distance themselves from a potential major label inside job.

Few clues have emerged telling us anything otherwise, but the truth is No Ceremony are impressing more and more by the minute and it’s becoming nigh on impossible to ignore. Hoax or not, the two joint singles to their name are exciting works respectively, with a ferocious 4am pulse, blending club-trance with hard-hitting guitar sections. True to our early premonitions, vocals are warped and de-tuned, acting as instruments rather than a driving force. Regardless, you hear the recent material, you watch the arty videos and you see something of genuine substance.