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TRACK OF THE DAY: Silent Hotels

WHO: The Answering Machine

Band Members: Martin Colcough –Vocals, Guitars

Pat Fogarty: Guitar, backing vocals

Gemma Evans: Bass, backing vocals

Ben: Drums (from summer ’07)

WHAT: Mancunian pop outfit The Answering Machine are the little band that could: underrated and malnourished indie kids who, up until a few months ago, relied on a drum machine called ‘Mustafa beat’ and a speak n’ spell to provide percussion as they couldn’t find a fourth member. Here is a band sticking to the fundamentals of great pop; no livid casio assaults, nor distortions to make the rhythm guitar sound like that noise that occurs when you’re holding your phone too close to the TV again.

THE HYPE: ‘…An unexpected delight’. - NME

WE SAY: Silent Hotels is a self deprecating, sincere tale of heartbreak – ‘ in silent hotels/I woke, I broke her heart’ complete with tinny guitars and endearing three-way chants that actually appear to go a bit wrong at the end. Hugging music.

IF YOU ONLY NEED TO KNOW ONE THING: They recently featured as the soundtrack to ex-Dior designer Hedi Slimane’s website.

WHEN CAN I GET MY HANDS ON IT: Silent Hotels was released on limited vinyl which has now unfortunately sold out, however it can now be purchased from itunes along with the B sides, ‘ It’s over! It’s over! It’s over!’ and the adorable acoustic gem, ‘The Information’.

FIND MORE: www.theansweringmachine.net

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