86TVs

Some things in life deserve not to be rushed. Though 86TVs are about to share their debut album with the world – and album that fizzles and crackles with all the excitement and inventiveness of a group in their first flush of creativity – the path that led them here stretches back over five years.

Back to 2017, when South London indie rock heroes The Maccabees called it a day after 14 years together. One of the only groups in history to have ever bowed out at the absolute pinnacle of their game, the band had just scored a number one album, won an Ivor Novello Award and headlined their first festival. Yet, they felt they’d taken the group as far as it could go and over three sold-out celebratory nights at London’s Alexandra Palace, they bade farewell. As the final note of the final show rang out, The Maccabees took a bow and walked off stage, leaving on a high. Time to move on to pastures new.

Taking their name from a song by northern songsmiths I Am Kloot (a band the brothers used to obsessively go watch live as teenagers – loyally mouthing back with singer Johnny Bramwell that every song was about …. disaster) 86TVs recorded their debut album in little over a week with acclaimed producer Stephen Street, who alongside his work producing acts from The Smiths to Blur had recorded the first Maccabees album way back in 2007, before Hugo took the songs away to finesse.

For five years, the band managed to keep their very existence a secret before finally announcing themselves to the world in July at a small intimate show at London’s Omeara.