The Futureheads

Since emerging as part of the "angular movement" of post-punk-inspired bands from the U.K. in the early 2000s, the Futureheads have proved they have a distinctive take on that tradition.

K. in the early 2000s, the Futureheads have proved they have a distinctive take on that tradition.

While the influence of,, and was unmistakable in their spiky guitars and concise songwriting, the intricacy of their music -- which included four-part harmonies and unconventional song structures -- was all their own.

On 2004's The Futureheads (which included their exhilarating cover of 's "Hounds of Love"), their winning mix of rawness and sophistication offered a breath of fresh air.

They always gave this sound different nuances, adding intimacy on 2006's News and Tributes, streamlining it on 2008's This Is Not the World and stripping it bare on 2012's a cappella album Rant.

Despite taking a hiatus for much of the 2010s, the joyous vitality of the Futureheads'music was in rude health on 2019's Powers.

The Futureheads'founding members were vocalist/guitarist Barry Hyde, vocalist/bassist David "Jaff" Craig, and drummer, all of whom met while studying at City of Sunderland College.

Hyde and were tutors at a lottery-funded organization called the Sunderland City Detached Youth Project, which aimed to get kids off the street by having them play music instead.

The band -- whose members were still in their teens themselves -- used the building as a practice space, along with other area groups.

The rest of the Futureheads'lineup was also culled from the Sunderland City Detached Youth Project: vocalist/guitarist Ross Millard and Hyde's younger brother Dave, who eventually took over drum duty from (who later formed).

Though the band played its first show in December 2000 at a cricket and rugby club, they took their time to record; their debut EP, Nul Book Standard, appeared on the Project Cosmonaut label in late 2002. K. Singles Chart.