Washington DC’s Le Loup have all the hallmarks of the Next Big Thing. In their arsenal is a sound like a conglomeration of North America’s indie aristocracy (Arcade Fire, Animal Collective and Sufjan Stevens predominantly) that they yet craft it into something wholly unique, lyrics about cataclysm and destruction, and, most importantly, some seriously nifty artwork. And since when did a clunky album name and exclamation mark heavy song titles ever set anyone back?  The Throne is a hypnotic listen. For the work of a seven-piece collective the songs are decidedly sparse, revolving around a simple banjo riff around which echoing chanted vocals and some electronics circulate. The lyrics are based on Dante’s Inferno, which would be overwhelmingly pretentious were they not so affecting and knowingly grandiose. Opener Canto I is a vulnerable confession interspersed with “like”s and pauses that keep its lofty subject of personal hell grounded to earth. Le Loup: on the lips of hipsters near you soon.

Daniel Gray From the moment he put the first Steps album into his stereo he knew he'd found his calling.
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