White Lies

Who are they?

Until earlier this month, these three 19/20-year-olds were the UK's hottest unsigned band. Now, following an A&R scrum at their debut gig in February, the west Londoners have signed to Universal's Fiction imprint. "I am over the fucking moon," says Fiction's MD, Jim Chancellor. "I just think they are absolutely brilliant."

He would say that, wouldn't he?

Indeed. But he's not far wrong. White Lies' gloom-pop influences are obvious - the Teardrop Explodes, Echo & the Bunnymen and Joy Division - but it takes some talent to channel them into music as striking, accomplished and downright catchy as this. The leap in quality from the trio's previous band is astonishing.

They were in another band?

Yes, until October last year, they made promising, if unremarkable, Franz Ferdinand-styled pop with cheeky chappy lyrics as Fear of Flying. Then, the very week that Anton Corbijn's Control hit cinemas, they announced on their MySpace page that "Fear of Flying is DEAD ... White Lies is alive!"

What does Control have to do with it?

Well, it seems fair to assume that White Lies enjoyed Corbijn's brooding Ian Curtis biopic. Gone are Fear of Flying's colourful clothes and sunny disposition, replaced by black stage outfits and couplets rhyming "priest" with "deceased". The makeover may seem a touch contrived, but it suits them enormously well. Major league success now beckons.

Where can I hear them?

Their debut single, Unfinished Business, is released in April, with a tour following in May. Until then, two tracks are available at http://www.myspace.com/whitelies



Tonight @ The Echo
7:30pm / $10 adv, $12 dos / 18+