ICMP’s National Album Day 2024 | Great British Groups

National Album Day is returning in 2024 and this year is celebrating records by 'Great British Groups'. 

The initiative was launched back in 2018 to showcase the album, a musical format that has been delighting music lovers for more than 70 years. 

As we're sure you know, there are plenty of albums out there that are influential, era-defining and even life-changing. 

Here are some of favourites connected to the ICMP community.

Nova Twins | 'Supernova'

Anger, wit and a fearless fusion of genres and musical styles are front and centre of Nova Twins' explosive 2022 record, 'Supernova'. 

Self-proclaimed as "two mixed race girls who shout through distorted mics and play gnarly bass riffs", their debut album, 'Who Are the Girls?', was released in 2020 just a matter of weeks before the first lockdown.

However, despite these challenges, by the end of the year, they had acquired numerous industry awards and had already pushed the MOBOs to include a rock/alternative category in their awards. 

As ambassadors for National Album Day and also for our scholarship, they are one of the most exciting guitar acts in the UK.

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Daughter | 'Music from Before The Storm'

Daughter feature the incredible talents of our BA Songwriting alumna vocalist Elena Tonra alongside Igor Haefeli (Songwriting) and Remi Aguilella (BMus in Popular Music Performance | Drums) who all met during their time at ICMP.

The band are re-releasing their acclaimed 'Music from Before the Storm' album for National Album Day, the soundtrack to the video game 'Life is Strange: Before the Storm'. The music, much of which is without lyrics, is reverb-drenched and succeeds in immersing listeners into the disorientating world of the game. 

As described by Line of Best Fit upon its original release: "'Music from Before the Storm' is a soundtrack that succeeds in encapsulating a great vastness and emotional depth while retaining a clear sonic aesthetic. Daughter have created a work that is cinematic and captivating."

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Skunk Anansie | 'Paranoid & Sunburnt' 

Ace is not only ICMP's Head of Industry Partnerships and Business Development but also guitarist and songwriter with British rock band, Skunk Anansie.

Featuring the iconic Skin as frontwoman, the band are a UK guitar-wielding success story, touring the world, selling millions of albums and racking up more than 25 million annual Spotify streams. 

Achievements have been many - the band were the first international multi-racial band to tour South Africa, playing three sold out arena shows. When they headlined the 1999 Glastonbury Festival, Skin made history as the first Black British headliner of the festival.

'Weak' was the fourth and final single from their debut album, 'Paranoid & Sunburnt'.

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Ezra Collective | 'Dance, No One is Watching'

Ezra Collective are one of the UK’s most vital new bands, a musical force spearheading the jazz revival that saw them winning the Mercury Prize in 2023 for their album, 'Where I’m Meant To Be'. 

The five-piece band, who were named as Londoners of the Year by Time Out in 2023 and sponsored our scholarship, are led by drummer Femi Koleoso who has also performed with Gorillaz and many more.  

Album, 'Dance, No One is Watching' is their latest record, 19 tracks of infectious joyous grooves, doffing their caps to the past while looking to the future.

Influenced by the likes of Tony Allen and Fela Kuti alongside contemporary sound system and club culture, you'll be able to feel it in your hearts and feet. 

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Radiohead | 'Ok Computer'

Ed O'Brien is guitarist with experimental UK rock band Radiohead and one of the architects of their masterpiece, 1997's 'Ok Computer'. 

Heralded as one of the best guitar albums of all time, Ed was a student with ICMP back when we were known as the Guitar Institute. 

The album - the band's third after 'Pablo Honey' and 'The Bends' - stretched their musical template into unchartered waters.

Recorded with long-term collaborator Nigel Godrich, the LP's themes explored anxieties and uncertainty surrounding technological advancements and the impact of rapid globalisation. 

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Bloc Party | 'Alpha Games'

'Alpha Games' is the latest record by indie heroes Bloc Party with ICMP alumna Louise Bartle on drums and contributing songwriting.

The record is the band's sixth studio record and released back in 2022.

Inspired by the anniversary tour for their epochal 2005 debut 'Silent Alarm', the record was welcomed by critics as a return to form for the group whose propulsive rhythms and tightly wound guitars proved to be a huge hit at this year's Glastonbury Festival.

As the NME said in their review: "It's distinctly Bloc Party, capturing the energy and the attitude that made them one of the most exciting groups to come out of that crowded '00s scene."

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