Spokes

Spokes are a UK group based in Manchester and Newcastle. The band forms in 2006 through boyhood friendships, family ties and a long-standing interest in recording and touring. The line-up consists of Matthew Baty and John-Michael Hedley.

Sound and style

Their music draws on folk, shoegaze, slowcore, ambient and post-rock, while also using experimental elements. Their songs move between euphoric noise and quieter passages, and the band is noted for a large, expansive sound despite being a small group. Critics describe their work as combining bittersweet joy with darker, more downbeat moments.

Early releases and recognition

In 2007, Spokes record their debut EP, People Like People Like You. The release mixes off-kilter indie with broader post-rock and classical-influenced structures, and it sells out quickly. It leads to a main-stage appearance at the Big Chill festival and also sells out at Rough Trade. The band wins the Sound 2008 competition and plays at Rockness.

Label activity and later recording

The attention around these shows and releases brings interest from Ninja Tune and its imprint Counter Records, which re-releases People Like People Like You in 2009. After playing the End of the Road festival, Spokes return to their base in the North-East of England to finish work on their first full-length album. That material adds intricate vocal harmonies and more complex arrangements, while still keeping a detailed and carefully balanced sound. Their influences include Neil Young and Kate Bush.

Associated tracks and media

The track Torn Up In Praise comes from early album recordings and appears on a Counter Records sampler, where it receives a positive reaction from Clash. A demo called Daisy is included as a featured download in a Ninja Tune feature alongside Jaga Jazzist and Andeya Triana. We Can Make It Out is presented as the first single from the album Everyone I Ever Met, and its choral vocals are described as representative of the record’s energy.