Thank you for the music

11:58am Friday 2nd January 2004

For the past 12 months News Shopper reporter Will Scott has been keeping an eye on the music scene, bringing you news of the best new releases, local gigs and bands from the area who could be hitting the big time soon or sinking without trace. He gives his tips on who and what to look out for in 2004 but will he be right?

Of the all the demo CDs I received this year and there were dozens I have picked out three local bands who could be making a noise next year.

I would have to say Wilberforce have made more of an impression on me than most unsigned bands I have listened to this year.

Their debut album, Madam Fruitbowl, was like a breath of fresh air when I first heard it and nothing has swayed me to change my opinion since.

Where most bands are following the American rock paradigm for one reason or another, the Abbey Wood-based band offered a refreshing dose of Englishness, found only in music by The Kinks, Madness, The Smiths and The Fall.

Not that they sound like the aforementioned. If anything, as I discussed back in March, The Cardiacs, Stump and Jilted John spring to mind.

Wilberforce frontman Mark Tingley touches upon themes of love, loss, the pub, nostalgia, fruit and their former French teacher, whom the album is named after.

And Tingley's quirky, articulate and intelligent songs are sprinkled with sharp observations, humour and pathos.

With Wilberforce, there are rarely any grey areas: it is either love or hate, fun or misery, good or bad. Check out their website at www.wilberweb.co.uk Plumstead-based band Proles are another band which show promise.

The Proles are a little more obvious than Wilberforce, as they are, in essence, a rock band with a difference.

It is possible to detect the band's sound as it has been selected from several sources including The Beatles, Oasis, Eric Clapton and REM.

But, as drummer Ian Clements revealed in the summer, they offer more than the usual rock clichs as they tackle themes of introspection as well as commenting on the social and political zeitgeist.

Indeed, the band took their name from George Orwell's book, 1984.

Clements commented: "It means industrial workers for the working class and as we are all socially conscious the name is perfect."

It has been a while since the Manic Street Preachers thrust their manifesto upon us. Maybe the Proles can now take the baton?

Finally, Bedhed are another band to look out for next year. The Greenwich four-piece are hoping their blistering blend of moody and seductive atmospherics will catch the attention of the record company A&R men. And there's no reason why they can't.

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