Faris Badwan (formerly Rotter) heads up a motley crew of impeccably dressed ne'er do wells from Southend. Badwan, guitarist Joshua Third, Tomethy Furse (bass), keyboardist Spider Webb and drummer Coffin Joe look like a cross between Tim Burton extras, stylish goths and Dickensian villains. Their sound crosses punk, Joe Meek and Phil Spector, My Bloody Valentine and Psychedelic Furs, with Nuggets-era rock & roll, plus their forthcoming album was produced by Geoff Barrow of Portishead fame, their first release on XL Recordings.