10 Essential Tracks That Shaped British Indie

It was the post-punk pioneers and modern innovators that carved out a sound in British Indie that is both emotionally raw and inventive. This list brings together ten tracks that highlight the genre’s evolution – from the guitars of the 1980s to today’s experiments. Whether you’re new to indie or looking to revisit its roots, The Mic's Suzannah Bedford explores songs that capture the British indie scene.

1) Temptation - New Order

Starting somewhat at the very beginning, New Order are technically not what we would now classify as an indie band, however, their post-punk and new wave roots are a fundamental foundation of the genre. We can credit New Order heavily for the Madchester movement, which directly combined more conventional indie features with psychedelic pop, rebirthing Manchester's music scene and paving the way for modern indie artists. Therefore, it seems only fair to start this list off with the seven-minute masterpiece that is Temptation. The melancholic nostalgia that this song upholds through its characteristically New Order synths makes it, in my opinion, one of the best tracks of the decade. On top of that, its poignant lyricism through lines like “I think I'll walk alone, I'll find my soul as I go home” cements this track as a testament to self-discovery and passion, both heavily prevalent within the modern indie genre.

2) In Between Days - The Cure

Similarly, 1985's In Between Days from The Cure outlined a transition from the sonically gloomy tracks on their previous albums such as Pornography to a brighter, more infectious sound, without jeopardising the band's desire for authenticity in their lyricism. Robert Smith wrote that he “had outgrown a lot of [his] musical prejudices” at the time of writing In Between Days, perhaps explaining the band's switch to a more infectious sound. Regardless, In Between Days serves as another introduction of a more quintessentially indie sound, through the evolution of the post-punk and new wave genres.

3) Cemetery Gates - The Smiths

For most people, when they think of British indie bands, they immediately think of The Smiths, and for good reason. Morrissey, Marr, Rourke and Joyce found the perfect blend of melancholic lyrics with undoubtedly memorable bass, drums and guitar. The Smiths avoided the new wave, synth influences and were predominantly inspired by post-rock, resulting in their jangly indie perfection. Cemetery Gates, for me, showcases the epitome of The Smiths' talent. Rourke's bright, uplifting bassline, paired with Morrissey's distinctive vocals, creates the signature “Smiths” sound we all recognise. In this track specifically, the careful blend of morbidity and literary references with The Smiths' distinctive sound creates the pinnacle of 1980s indie rock.

4) Life Must Be So Wonderful - Pulp

Although certainly not as prestigious as their later albums Different Class or This Is Hardcore, I think that Pulp's sophomore album Freaks has a lot to offer the listener – most notably for me the incredibly angsty Life Must Be So Wonderful. Without a doubt, the highlight of this track is Jarvis Cocker's devastatingly mesmerising lyricism, which is only enhanced by his haunting vocals, especially in the song’s final minute. Pulp famously started within the grassroots venues in Sheffield (as do a majority of the UK's greatest indie bands), and although their later work is categorised more as Britpop, I think that their earlier work's post-punk influence and their heavy connection to the grassroots scene definitely earn them a spot on this list. Life Must Be So Wonderful is very different from a lot of the band's other work, but I cannot recommend it enough – it is a freakish treat! Also, this seems like a perfect time for a reminder of how important it is to support independent venues, as we wouldn't have these incredible artists without them!

5) Nothing to Be Done - The Pastels

This Glaswegian duo really accelerated the Scottish indie music scene with their airy, almost childlike indie pop. I think that their understated track Nothing to Be Done encapsulates their relaxed, whimsical yet still guitar-driven persona. Stephen McRobbie's and Aggi Wright's vocals complement each other in a way that creates an earnestly comforting song, filled with juvenile innocence in a truly magical way. The contrasting vocals and bright, soft sound really solidify what indie pop had the potential to become. As there was little restriction on the creativity of their sound, The Pastels achieved a truly nostalgic song and created long-lasting guidelines for indie pop's future.

6) The Concept - Teenage Fanclub

Brought to the forefront by the pivotal C86 cassette, Teenage Fanclub is another band from Glasgow, whose distinctively noisy guitar tracks established them as leaders in the indie rock scene. The Concept is the opening track on their most popular album Bandwagonesque. As the opener, The Concept has a lot of pressure to deliver and intrigue the listener, and over thirty years later, this track still holds up. From the song's opening, the enticing guitar feedback clearly highlights Teenage Fanclub's status as a guitar-heavy band – the distortion and riffs throughout the track make this even more prevalent. The Concept delivers a noisy guitar track with signature softer background vocals throughout, finalising Teenage Fanclub as a classic band that satisfies all of your indie-rock needs.

7) Moaning Lisa Smile - Wolf Alice

If I'm completely honest, there is bias for Wolf Alice being on this list as they are my favourite band of all time, but I firmly believe that Moaning Lisa Smile speaks volumes. This track is off the band’s second EP Creature Songs and is still frequently played at the majority of their shows eleven years later – surely a testament to the strength of this song. Wolf Alice are renowned for their ability to create heavy guitar tracks without the music feeling oppressive, and Moaning Lisa Smile does that perfectly. Joff Oddie's guitar throughout this song is sensational and Ellie Rowsell's truly dynamic vocals were so strong even this early in the band's career. On top of that, the introspective lyrics like “flash your teeth through the inside hurts” blend effortlessly into the walls of guitar. Wolf Alice are pioneers of modern indie rock and are again a band who started within grassroots venues and fight for them to stay open, as live performances are at the heart of the indie scene.

8) Too Late Now - Wet Leg

The closing track off Wet Leg's self-titled album, for me, has everything needed from a modern indie track. Rhian Teasdale's unique vocals and authentic lyrics throughout Too Late Now make for a thought-provoking track that allows the listener to feel seen and resonate with the emotions described – a key element of indie rock. The guitar throughout has clear post-punk influences; however, the band minimises the instrumentation at times to draw focus onto the song’s lyricism. Teasdale's more talkative approach to her vocalisation makes the song feel introspective and raw. Too Late Now serves as a cathartic end to the album and sums up the existential feelings explored throughout, providing an outlet for the artist and their listeners.

9) Neon - Jockstrap

Although certainly not a conventional indie artist, I have included Jockstrap on this list as the duo serve as representation for what creative freedom within independent labels is allowing artists to achieve. This duo consists of Taylor Skye and Georgia Ellery (more notably known for her work in the band Black Country, New Road). Jockstrap are sonically very different from BC,NR; however, it is apparent that Ellery's experience within the post-punk and indie scene translates into Neon – it is simply heavily complemented by Skye's electronic production. Neon allows for an amalgamation of Ellery's delicate vocals and starts perhaps as what we would expect from an indie artist before the introduction of the electronics, creating an experimental track that really pays off. Jockstrap have created an innovative, experimental sound that still effortlessly conveys emotion and passion. Independent music is about pushing the boundaries and encouraging creative expression, and I believe that Jockstrap are a great example of that.

10) Sinner - The Last Dinner Party

This five-piece indie group rose to popularity quite suddenly and faced some criticism for this; however, their debut album Prelude to Ecstasy is a wonderful collection of songs exploring femininity, power and self-discovery. Particularly, Sinner is an expressive indie-rock track that tackles feelings of sexuality and restriction, complemented by vibrant guitar and angelic vocals throughout. The Last Dinner Party are a highly performative band and their on-stage movement can be felt throughout this track's exuberance. As the last song on this list, I think that Sinner and The Last Dinner Party propose the future of indie rock as an effervescent genre, that highly values emotional depth and live performance.

Suzannah Bedford

Edited by Daniela Roux

Cover Image courtesy of The Last Dinner Party via Facebook