The ShortListen: BANNERS (no. 215)

Who? BANNERS

What’s the story? It's tempting to look at the likes of Coldplay and Snow Patrol and imagine that it's easy to do what they do. There's no complicated chords there, no crazy time signatures or sonic weirdness. But to nail those soaring melodies and speak straight to the hearts of many millions people is maddeningly difficult to do - many try, and many fail. But we have hopes for Liverpool singer/songwriter Mike Nelson, aka BANNERS, with this song, taken from his first EP since signing to Island Records. The chorus is uplifting and euphoric, and his voice has the same direct qualities as Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody - no vocal mannerisms here, just straight to the point emotional indie. Is it Chasing Cars? Well... no... but it's a great track and we're sure he's got plenty more up his sleeve to come next year.

For fans of: Coldplay, Snow Patrol

In three words: Stadium indie sounds