“Playing together in bands became the thing to look forward to in the week.

“It was definitely escapism. We never expected to get a record deal and a couple of tours booked.”

So says Traams bassist Leigh Padley, prior to last Monday’s release of their debut album Grin on Brighton-based FatCat Records.

To mark the occasion the trio are on tour, having started in the HMV in their old home town of Chichester on the release date, and culminating this Monday at Resident, in their current home city.

“I don’t know if the music gets an extra feel when you have the time and space to really practice,” says Padley, who used to rehearse with the band in Patching.

“We did our best to be as tight as we could before we showed it to anybody.”

The band got signed after being invited to play FatCat’s A&R man’s birthday party and subsequently showing tracks they had already recorded with producer Rory Attwell to the label.

FatCat encouraged them to complete their sessions with Attwell – which eventually became the album – and booked time with Hookworms’ MJ, to create the EP Ladders.

In the band’s eyes, the two recordings make a complete package.

The music on Grin clearly takes influences from the American underground, with Adam Stock’s motorik Krautrock-style drumming overlaid by Stu Hopkins’ fuzzy guitars and obscured vocals.

It was the music the trio passed between them while living in Chichester which helped them find their sound – having first met at Hopkins’ alternative music club night Goo in Bognor.

“I had never heard of a lot of US bands such as No Age and Health until we got together,” says Padley.

“Hearing about bands like Muse, who formed in Teignmouth in Devon, was quite inspiring.

“When I got into [Washington] DC hardcore bands, I realised this sound came from a garage and all of a sudden the world was their audience. I learned that it’s about your surroundings and friends – it’s not just about going off to London and trying to make it big. You’ve got to figure it out first.”

Word is gradually seeping out, with Traams being invited to support post-punk legends Wire on their European tour after the band was spotted playing the Beacons Festival in Skipton last month.

“We’ve only done 40 gigs,” says Padley. “We want to do a lot more to really get this record out there.”

  • Traams play Resident, in Kensington Gardens, Brighton, on Monday, September 23. Starts 6pm, two free tickets with every purchase of Grin. Call 01273 606312.