London-based Arnold were signed to Creation Records in 1996, when label boss Alan McGee broke his own "no more signings" promise after hearing their roughly recorded demo. Mark Saxby (guitar), Phil Payne (bass) and Phil Morris (vocals) had previously played in generic indie band Patio, but following the death of their friend and lead singer Rob in 1996, they elected to carry on playing music and renamed themselves Arnold. Recording an eight-track demo in a Kent barn, their tuneful but melancholic songs attracted the ear of McGee, who signed the band and insisted the demo tapes be released. The Barn Tapes was a mellow and largely acoustic mini-album, the outstanding tracks "Face" and "2 Chairs" capturing the rootsy charm of the band, while not disguising the downbeat tone of Saxby's lyrics. Persevering with their determinedly low-key approach, the band returned to the barn in Kent to record further material for their forthcoming debut album, which was introduced by the edgy sound of their new single, "Twist'. The band released another fine album, Hillside, the following year. They were dropped by Creation in summer 1999, but signed to McGee's new Poptones label for the release of October 2001"s Bahama.

Listen to Arnold at Finetune.

• (1998)  Hillside

• Hillside
• Windsor Park
• Fleas Don't Fly
• Mickey's Mother
• Fishsounds

• Doves
• Muse
• Radiohead
• Snow Patrol
• Super Furry Animals
• Fanfare Trumpeters Of The Royal Military School Of Music, Kneller Hall/Francis Baines
• Hoffnung (Alias Morley College) Symphony Orchestra/Sir Malcolm Arnold
• Keren Ann
• T. E. Bean
• Badly Drawn Boy
• Beck
• Blur
• Coldplay
• Eels
• Elbow
• Ocean Colour Scene
• Pulp
• Supergrass
• The Verve
• Travis

• russcat