There are unsigned bands, and there are unsigned bands. There's the ones that are made up of your mate's little brother and a couple of lads from his DT class who have only just scraped together enough pocket money to buy a drum kit from Argos. Then there's the ones who have played shows with Jane's Addiction and We Are Scientists, made appearances at Reading & Leeds, The Great Escape and Camden Crawl, and worked with Arctic Monkeys' producer. Frontiers are that latter band.
You may remember that we saw this Nottingham four-piece at Dot-To-Dot in Manchester earlier this year. Back then we thought of them as a 'bit of a discovery'; and having been impressed by them again at The Good Ship in Kilburn this week, we just wanted to make sure you get round to discovering them too. The fact is, they've actually been slogging away to grab your attention for some time. Since drummer Jonnie Barnett joined old friends Jacob Austin, Charlie Burley and Alex Noble in 2009; Frontiers have been producing music that's been creating an almighty buzz amongst bloggers and critics alike. They've been tipped for success for such a long time now that we're worried that when they do finally dot the i's and cross the t's on a record deal that the world may implode.
To go to a Frontiers show is to become a believer in them. There is no other reason for them to be missing from the front of the NME but for the fact the right break hasn't happened for them just yet. As you admire the blend of post-punk and indie rock bursting into an energy like a swarm of hipster bees on stage, you can put complete faith into the fact that Frontiers really are on the brink of breaking. These lads have a sound, a look and a startlingly mature sense of creative identity all on their side. It's enough talent to knock you sick.
With a record poised for release next year, it's hard to comprehend that this is a band that only just feel ready to get an EP out there. To listen to the fuzz-heavy groove of 'Alibi' and the deliciously catchy 80s flavoured 'In Pursuit', you wonder what on earth could have been holding them back. Their musicianship and song-writing capabilities are every bit as convincing as other retro-loving types like The Chapman Family and Chapel Club before them. But if you're going to listen to just one track, make sure it's 'Sound of Confusion'. It's the stunner that shines in their live sets; the drama of a sullen indie pop sound is met with sublime guitar and driving vocals in a way that only affirms the bright future destined for Frontiers as a touring band.
Cited as 'Britain's next big rock band' by the editor of CMU, you have to watch out for Frontiers more than ever before. As the new year swiftly approaches, 2011 must surely be the last year they will see out as an unsigned group. Any other outcome would just be a travesty. We would threaten to eat our hat, but we'd rather not. Just in case. The thought is there though.