Point Clear

Candidate are one of those accessible cult bands who belong to the people who know. They have been compared happily by critics to The Beta Band, The Go Betweens, Julian Cope, and the sacred trio of initialised groups: CSNY, XTC and REM. Candidate formed just before the turn of the millennium, Their demo tape, when there were demo tapes, sat at the top of industry in-trays, when there were industry in-trays (alongside one by a band called Coldplay). There was a hell of a lot of fuss, which was exciting. Uncomfortable with the idea of joining the burgeoning stadium indie scene, and never comfortable with life on the circuit, because bass amps are heavy and there are sometimes stairs, the band retreated to their home studio, to play with interesting noises, building folky loops, fat acoustic drones, and walls of guitars and harmonies, turning down support slots and festival appearances alongside some very big names, which may have been stupid, but they stand by their decision.