Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

The Rumble Strips are made up of four men from Tavistock who've known each other for years but only officially formed recently.

They're now celebrating after coming tenth in a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ poll for bands to look out for and have been making their new album.

The Strips are singer, guitarist and principle songwriter Charlie Waller, Tom Gorbutt on sax and bass, Matthew Wheeler on drums and Henry Clark on keyboards and trumpet.

The four had a history together before the band became final.

"We played together when we were growing up in different guises," said Charlie.

The Rumble Strips in action

"I was at primary school with Tom and first saw Henry play in his dad's band when he was 10, and then at secondary school at 11 or 12 we first started playing together properly."

Charlie then moved to London to go to art college and even went through a time of self doubt about a career in music.

"I was in another band for a while, then I came to London and started a band with a friend," said Charlie

"I got trapped between the two bands and I ended up leaving them both and thought about forgetting the whole thing but we (The Strips) decided to give it another go and it picked up again."

And now the band, described by NME Magazine as "A Dexys-resurrected feast of sax, trumpet and drums that rolls like a hay bale" are glad they did form.

Alongside rave reviews from all sources they were number 10 in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Sounds of 2007 awards, highlighting the 10 best bands to look out for during the year.

The Rumble Strips EP cover

In addition to that a public vote is being held which puts the Rumble Strips at third, just behind Mika and Klaxons, something that delights the band.

"It was good to get tenth, especially as a lot of the other bands I really like, so to be alongside those were great," said Charlie.

"But the public vote means more to us, although it's probably my mum voting!"

Now the group have just returned from Los Angeles where they've been recording their new album with famous producer Tony Hoeffer, the man who made Beck a success, and are planning their future.

"I think it's going to be a lot of touring really and with the album out before summer we'll be doing a lot of festivals which are good fun," said Charlie.

"Then just write more, record more and get on with the next one!"