The Rumble Strips
“the songs is what they’re all about – plaintive, soaring melodies, that don’t cower behind a shield of electric fuzz, but instead leap out and wrestle you to the ground, puncturing your heart with their honesty and bravado” NME, March 2006
“One of the most exciting new bands in Britain” Pitchfork, March 2006
An incredibly busy 2006 for The Rumble Strips saw them cap it all off with the signing of a long term deal with Fallout / Island Records (the label’s second signing after The Fratellis). The four young men from Devon’s debut release for the label was the ‘Cardboard Coloured Dreams’ EP in November 2006. On this EP, lead track ‘Oh Creole’ sets out the band’s stall from the off. Thundering drums, brass to stir the soul and singer Charlie Waller’s voice – a thing of rare beauty and power suggesting a genuine star in the making. Backed by the fairground waltz of ‘Running Away’ and the Bowie playing at Big Pink, plus the white boy funk of ‘High Street Heaven’, you have one hell of a debut EP.
Prior to signing with Fallout/Island, the band released two independent singles on ‘label du jour’ Transgressive Records. Both singles (‘Motorcycle’ and ‘Hate Me’) have received cult status due to the critical acclaim heaped upon them, the limited nature of both releases and the excellent accompanying promo videos.
The spirit of these songs make The Rumble Strips a perfect match for Fallout. This is a group walking to a different beat to the rest of the crowd that genuinely stand out from their contemporaries.
What are The Rumble Strips about? Exceptionally strong melodies, smart, funny self-deprecating lyrics, pop hooks and song writing of the highest quality. There’s a real sense of honesty with this band, both musically and lyrically, that resonates throughout their songs - that uncanny knack of making the most uplifting, anthemic of music out of the saddest, most desolate songs.
For anyone lucky enough to see the band live will know that The Rumble Strips are one of the most exciting live propositions in the country. They believe in the 100% no holds barred maxim of going full tilt in their live shows and the passion, energy and rhythmic intensity of their performances is what sets them out from the pack.
Over the last couple of years they have toured extensively over the last 18 months including support slots with The Young Knives, The Zutons Dirty Pretty Things, The Maccabees, Amy Winehouse amongst a host of others. They have since graduated to headlining status and headlined the NME Top Man tour during the Spring of 2007. They are also regulars on the Festival circuit.
Since ‘Cardboard Coloured Dreams’, the Rumbles have released three further singles on Fallout – ‘Alarm Clock’, a re-release of ‘Motorcycle’ and the late Summer feelgood soul ripper ‘Girls and Boys in Love’ which featured on the Simon Pegg hit comedy ‘Run Fat Boy Run’. They are about to release their next single ‘Time’ on 19 November. They also had the opportunity to do remix the Amy Winehouse track ‘Back To Black’
In September 2007 they released their debut album ‘Girls and Weather’ produced by Tony Hoffer.
The Rumble Strips are:
CHARLES WALLER – Vox / Guitar
MATTHEW WHEELER - drums
HENRY CLARK – keys / trumpet
THOMAS GORBUTT – Sax / bass
SAM MANSBRIDGE – bass/percussion
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