Ambulance LTD

Brooklyn, New York's Ambulance LTD emerged by reviving the British shoegazing sound that flourished in the late '80s and early '90s, layering swirling, dreamy guitars across an indie rock scene already crowded with emo purists and punk opportunists. Marcus Congleton handled vocals and guitar alongside Benji Lysaght on guitar, Matt Dublin on bass, Andrew Haskell on keyboards, and Darren Beckett on drums; the group drew early acclaim for its live shows prior to inking a deal with TVT Records. Their reverb-drenched riffs prompted critics to invoke My Bloody Valentine and Ride, while the boyish harmonies echoed Teenage Fanclub. Rather than dismiss them as derivative, observers welcomed Ambulance LTD as a welcome shift within an underground rock & roll world grown stagnant and formulaic. The band tracked its self-titled debut EP in 2003, earning swift approval from the alternative press, then delivered LP the following spring. Following extensive road work that included a 2005 Lollapalooza appearance and the departure of keyboardist Andrew Haskell, Ambulance LTD issued the New English EP during winter 2006. The four-track release adopted a leaner sonic palette yet retained the high-quality songcraft that had marked the full-length.