Hackney five-piece The Wireless are back with a follow up to the sensational “He’s So Proud.” It would be hard, verging impossible to follow up the success of such a promising debut, but the latest installment “Been Here Before” hits the same standards, reaffirming the band’s potential. Combining blues inspired garage guitars with spontaneous lyrics; “If looks could kill then musics dying/These punks should care more about what they’re buying,” the band attack generic stereotypes emerging on to the music scene. This attack is not unfounded, the band themselves providing fresh air and the energy of youth in to the current London garage rock circuit.

B Side “Give In To Me” could have led the release on it’s own. It is both catchy and musically well done, the bass being a particular highlight on both tracks - commanding of the rhythm yet subtle and not overpowering - the bassist should feel proud of his contributions.

This follow up will please and surprise those who didn’t think it possible to follow up the massively impressive He’s So Proud. The band yet again deliver on both musical and commercial avenues, making catchy singles for the radio and keeping true to their garage rock roots simultaneously.

9/10

“I think the sound is never the same twice really,” says Felix of five-piece garage blues revivalists The Wireless. “We like to theme each song we right and give it the appropriate sound pallet. We really try to limit ourselves and not fuck around with too many effects. Its much more important for us to let the song stand up on its own without too much glossy nonsense. ”

It’s been a long journey for The Wireless, experimenting on their sound since 2001, until appointing Joe on keys last year. After shooting a feature for Dazed & Confused magazine the band released He’s So Proud and are set to release their follow up “Been Here Before” later this year.

The band are in “agreement with our blues roots,” drawing inspiration from “Screaming Jay Hawkins and John lee Hooker just for the raw sound they produced.” Vocally Felix admires crooners; “Sinatra, Waits, Nick Cave, Nick Drake, Lou Reed.” And as I question the influences further, Felix tells of the bands philosophy; “we take a lot of influence and ideas from our surroundings and experiences. Places we have been to places we are no longer aloud to go. Anything and everything can become meaningful given the right sort of approach.”

The band are undoubtedly moving to bigger things, already prominent on the live circuit, playing gigs for Artrocker and at the Islington and have launched their own club night with guests from Pete Doherty to Bloc Party. Upcoming gigs include a night at The Amersham Arms on the 16th November, and three days later on the 19th - at Jericho Tavern. Mainstream success should be the next stop on The Wireless tourbus, and plans for the future? - “an album that speaks for a generation and lives on past the sands of time.”

Written by Thom Morgan, all quotes taken from Felix (The Wireless) - Special thanks to Keir Mills (Bloody Awful Poetry PR)