Wednesday 23rd November saw Leeds based indie pop champions Blood Oranges (our coverage) launch their debut single ‘The French word for Love’. Formed at Leeds University in 2009 and quickly creating a name for themselves around the country, with a great selection of other northern indie bands they filled the bar at The Nation of Shopkeepers for a night of indie pop frivolity. There is always a great atmosphere and a feeling of exclusiveness when seeing a gig at Nation and this was to be no exception.

New kids on the block Post War Glamour Girls were the first on the stage who for their fifth ever gig introduced the audience to a great evening of music. The five piece band surprised us with an interestingly dark and diverse sound, that at some times although enjoyable may have been a little genre confused. The set was enhanced by a random trumpet solo which was greatly appreciated by the audience. Sheffield based indie favourites Standard Fare were next to grace the stage and continued the quality of music, offering great indie tracks with a surprising and charming rawness, exploring the innocence and mistakes of youth. Entertaining and original, these are great contender for other three piece female led bands around now such as Sky Larkin and Esben and the Witch.

After two exciting supports the comfortably sized audience waited patiently for Blood Oranges to hit the stage, and they were not to be disappointed. You can’t help but love everything about this band from their quirkiness to their fun loving attitude. So accomplished for their short time on the Leeds circuit Blood Oranges are skilled in the art of addictive pop brilliance. They began their set with a perfect example of their interpretation of an indie pop tune, lyrically intricate and deceptive yet fun and danceable, they continued to fill the rest of the evening with musical tales of young love and lost romance. The duets of guitarist Ben Lewis and Rose Alexander throughout the set were charming and the band honestly looked like they were having a great time just like their audience. They are a band of great diversity and their different influences came through their musical mix of fast and danceable tracks with some slow, more wistful and contemplative songs.

While the similarities to bands like Los Campesinos! and The Wedding Present are unmistakable, Blood Oranges are quite distinct. Their long awaited new single ‘The French Word for Love’ produced by Whiskas of Forward, Russia! is a song of indie pop perfection and is available on a limited edition 7” through London Label Things to Make and Do.

[BUY] Blood Oranges – The French Word For Love from Rough Trade

…and they’ve also done a rather special video