The Boo Radleys

Take Me Out presents: The Boo Radleys. A shoegaze band that gained notice during the Britpop era, The Boo Radleys have followed an unconventional path in which sonic experimentation has always been a hallmark. Today, the trio (original members Simon “Sice” Rowbottom — vocals, guitar, keyboards; Tim Brown — bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals; and Rob Cieka — drums, vocals) announces the release of their new album In Spite of Everything on May 1. Conceived following the loss of Tim’s eldest son, the single “Living Is Easy” focuses on that grief and the accompanying sense of helplessness.

In Spite of Everything juxtaposes loss and light. Despite the complexity of its emotions — introspection, the chaos of nature, broken friendships and major life decisions — the album retains a lively energy. The Boo Radleys find melodies in off-kilter sounds and draw on their catalogue to explore new territories.

The Boo Radleys formed in Wallasey, in the Wirral, and first made their name with the albums Ichabod and I (1990) and Everything’s Alright Forever (1992). Giant Steps (1993) merges shoegaze, psychedelia, dub reggae, jazz and Beach Boys–inspired harmonies. Wake Up! then took them to the forefront of the Britpop charts in 1995, propelled by the success of “Wake Up Boo!”. Rather than simply repeating the Wake Up! formula, they chose a bolder, less conventional route with C’mon Kids (1996), a record that did not reach the same commercial heights but earned cult status among fans.