This lot are from Glasgow and there’s barely any information about them to be had anywhere. Therefore, condescending to fulfil the barest and most meagre of requirements of anyone who might describe themselves as any sort of journalist I sent the lads a quick email asking for any more info and how things were getting on.

Leo sent back a response pretty sharpish that was refreshingly free of the sort of self-conscious arsing about that can be really quite irritating in many groups when doing what I suppose amounts to promotional work. Plain speaking and no bollocks – I do like Scotland sometimes. The music is a sprightly, jumpy indie-pop with plenty of pep and hook. At times in Also Sprach Shareholder they sound like the sort of band The Zutons wish they could have been. Newest song Cressida is pure joy – tortured indie wail without the tortured indie glumness.

They’re another one of those groups that lurch in and out of rhythms in a moment, incorporating rock ‘n’ roll, pure indie pop and a little bit of glam at times. The sound is embellished by saxophones and synths but the punchy guitar rhythms tend to dominate. It’s all excellent stuff and I really hope they get their album together because I for one will be buying it if they do. In the meantime there are a couple of 7″ singles which I have bought, and I recommend you do too.

The Low Miffs – Cressida
The Low Miffs – Also Sprach Shareholder

website | myspace | buy earl grey & also sprach shareholder

Here’s what Leo Condie has to say about the coming year:

Just recently we have been working with Malcolm Ross, we’re currently applying for funding (like, at this precise minute the form is printing!) to record an album with him. Originally we were going to release it through a london label but they have run out of money so we are looking for alternate ideas. The past 6 months has been mostly us writing new songs and relearning stuff since we changed bass player (something i forgot to change in the biog actually – James Murdoch is now Mike Fowler), listening to a lot of Phil Spector, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, generally just far too much 50′s music for our own good, as well as messing about with EMS Synths and being obsessed with Bowie’s Berlin trilogy (for only about the 100th time in my life).

The new material sounds really good and it’s very exciting working with Malcolm who is a legend and a gent, and makes a damn fine cup of coffee (black as a moonless night!). I think there are copies of both 7″s available (he said, knowing full well there are) from either the record label’s websites, so check them out. The singles did alright but neither label really had the money to promote them, though both did an admirable job in the circumstances.

We are getting a bit poppier these days, Cressida is our newest song and you will hopefully notice it is a bit more commercial (not in a bad way, i hasten to add) than stuff like Earl Grey, which is grand too, but I think we’ve always been trying to find the balance between commerciality and experimental and that is no bad thing, as i’m sure you’ll agree.

Best wishes
Leo

Now if ever someone seemed like a thoroughly nice chap and eminently deserving of success I think you will agree that it is this gentleman. And if you don’t go out and buy their singles then you should bloody well be ashamed of yourselves.