Formed in late 2006, Leeds quartet I Concur have used 2007 to get themselves known and already have a lot in store for 2008. Fresh from inclusion on several indie label compilations, a tour in support of the hold steady and a headline tour of their own in 2007, they hit the ground running, set to make 2008 their year. With a Maida Vale session booked for the end of the month, the time was right to release their debut single while the ink on their contract with Brew records was still drying.

What first struck me about the band is their vast sound. The slow builds and the reverbs really generate an oceanic ambience which serves to create some huge moments, reminiscent of post-rock muses Mogwai. In a scene dominated by 2 minute indie shout-a-longs and processed beats it’s a brave statement to make to resist the temptation to jump on any bandwagons and plod on at 120bpm, a statement which has paid off.

One of the more interesting aspects of the band is their penchant for story-telling through their lyrics, often cryptic but always intriguing. Vocalist/guitarist Tim Hann discusses topics such as scientific blunders in Korea, extinct crocodiles and the plight of the M62 farmer who so boldly exclaimed ‘build around me’.

The single itself is a grand piece of music. It opens with a single guitar, which sounds like it was recorded in a cathedral or something equally epic. The percussion is introduced and takes the piece in a different direction, building up into an intense chorus section. The vocals are short, sweet and delivered with the fervour of a man fully immersed in his song. They alter the dynamic at every point, twists and turns around every corner, climaxing with an aggressively distorted outro section.

The B-side is not an entirely different affair. It follows a very similar structure and contains all the elements present in ‘Lucky jack’, conjuring the thought that I Concur might possibly be a one trick pony. Ignoring this factor, ‘Build around me’ is a great song, as moody as it is catchy with a gorgeous outro which makes use of lush strings and continues the soothing tones of the guitars.

This band is cleverly brutal, dynamically rebellious and bursting with ideas. They’ve worked hard to earn the opportunities they have now been granted and have crafted a beautiful ten minutes of music to satisfy your senses, which should pave the way for bigger and better things for I Concur in the future.