Oxford band Secret Rivals set to release album
Oxford band Secret Rivals have signed to Kittiwake Records and are set to release an album later in the year.
It will be preceded by a single, Tonight, Matthew, which has a release date in April.
The indie-pop four piece are also set to make an appearance on Tom Robinson's BBC Introducing: Fresh On The Net show on BBC Radio 6 Music on March 2.
Singer/guitarist Jamie Corcoran said: "We were made up to be asked to come on, we're massive fans of the show."
Mark Richardson, label manager at Kittiwake Records, said: "I and everyone here at Kittiwake feel that Secret Rivals follow on in the tradition of great Oxfordshire based bands like Radiohead, Foals, Supergrass and Stornoway."
Secret Rivals formed when Jamie and girlfriend Clouds Saez moved to Oxford in 2008 and answered an online advertisement from bassist Andrew Murton who was looking to put together a band.
Together with drummer Reece Chapman they wasted no time recording the three tracks of their first demo at home.
Jamie said: "We probably quite hastily put out our demo straight away. We started gigging as soon as we had enough songs to fill 20 minute sets.
"So initially our sound was a lot more punk but that was mainly due to the fact that we were quite unrehearsed."
By March 2009 they had received their first radio play courtesy of BBC Introducing in Oxford but they were to soon revamp their sound along with producer Jordan Fish.
The result was an 80s British punk sheen with catchy choruses and shared vocals between Jamie and Clouds, highlighting their obvious chemistry.
Not everyone was immediately impressed.
A Musicinoxford.co.uk article stated: "Secret Rivals are a disgrace and an embarrassment and the sooner they break up and cease wasting their time and ours... the better for all concerned."
Jamie said: "With reviews we try and take them with a pinch of salt.
"You take it on the chin and hopefully they'll come and see you again and you can give them something that bit better."
The Start Fires EP was released in October 2010 and marked an increase in the band's fortunes.
Plays by Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson followed and Kittiwake Records made contact with the band.
"It's nice that people are a lot more receptive to the stuff we're putting out now," Jamie said.
"We try and keep it lively and loud and fast and brutal."