I was trying my mini-disc out around the year 2000 and ended up recording a live session off the Steve Lamacq show. I listened to that session pretty much every day for the next few months!

I went on to see the band live a number of times until their "indefinite hiatus" in 2007.

That band was Electrelane.

They are a brilliant four-piece indie rock band from Brighton featuring Verity Susman, Emma Gaze, Mia Clarke, and Ros Murray.

Although that 2007 hiatus has had its glitches...

In fact I caught their reunion set at Field Day in London in 2011!

And the great news is that Susman has been actively releasing music with Memorials, so here is hoping for more from them as a band!

It's a real tricky one to know what songs of theirs to include for 1000 Songs. I hope by compiling this list, people will go off and devour their back catalogue!

My first choice is "Le Song,". A reminder of that Lamacq session I recorded all those years ago. What I love about it is the synth opening. It kicks off with a raw, buzzing vintage keyboard riff and then the band just crashes in and it gallops along like startled horse.

Or should I say Le cheval galope. (Probably not.)

Le Song by Electrelane

Blue Straggler from that session and the debut album Rock It To The Moon was a huge contender but I didn't end up including it.

Blue Straggler by Electrelane

So the second track I’ve gone with for the archive is "The Valleys" from The Power Out. It's slightly atypical of the band and of the album, it's a pretty low tempo one for them, but it stands alone as a fascinating track. It features an intriguing organ reminiscent of being on a British seaside promenade, which then expands into this huge, unique choral piece.

The Valleys by Electrelane

I absolutely love that album as a whole. I particularly wanted to include "On Parade" as well, but, I am hamstrung by my strict "10 songs a year" rule. This one is Electrelane all over for me. Pacy, brilliant guitar some quirky vocalisations (in a good way)

On Parade by Electrelane