Le Band Extraordinaire

From: Brighton

Influences: Classic pop, rock and roll, big-band jazz, klezmer, Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart.

Profile: Le Band Extraordinaire have headlined many Brighton and London shows, self-released their first EP and played alongside The Fiery Furnaces (Thrill Jockey), A Scandal in Bohemia, Selfish C**t (Sparrow's Tear), The Guillotines, Gabby Young and Other Animals, The Puppini Sisters and Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls (Roadrunner Records) for her sold out show at the ICA in London.

Le Band combine irresistible melodic hooks with arrangements that explore genuinely new and exciting territory; an original mix of twisted vaudevillian cabaret, growling, contemporary Klezmer, and experimental, tightly executed indie rock. Blazing sax and clarinet (Alex Painter and Esther Springett), clanging guitars (Chris Griffin), frenzied drums (Rob Ling) and enigmatic vocals (Jez Berns) build towards an elating experience with a unique sound inspired by a wide range of artists with backgrounds in jazz, Brazilian tropicalia, pop and punk.

They began when songwriters Jez Berns and Chris Griffin started working together in Summer 2006. Esther Springett and Alex Painter joined in early 2007 and the current line-up was complete with the addition of Rob Ling early in 2008. .

Marriage of Convenience (right click on the track to download, left click to stream)

MySpace: www.myspace.com/lebandextraordinaire