Jarcrew

In 1999 the Welsh town of Ammanford in Carmarthenshire gave rise to an uncategorisable five-piece whose charged fusion of electronica, punk and rock drew a devoted cult yet remained too abrasive for broader tastes. Assembled under the Community Music Wales initiative, the group comprised Kelson Matthias on vocals and keyboards, guitarists Rich Williams and Tom Clark, Rhodri Thomas on drums and vocals, and Ben Milner on bass and vocals. Their opening release, the single ‘Squadron No. 9’, surfaced in summer 2001 via the scheme’s Complete Control Music label. A support slot alongside the Lostprophets carried the music past its regional base, with crowds encountering the band’s habitually chaotic and unpredictable sets. Ahead of the summer 2002 Complete Control album Breakdance Euphoria Kids came the single ‘Paris And The New Math’. That visceral, unrefined record veered restlessly between electronica, punk and progressive rock, mirroring the force of the quintet’s live performances. London independent Gut Records soon signed the band, yet the reissue of their debut—retitled Jarcrew—required them to approve remastering on several tracks to broaden its appeal and to include two new recordings, ‘Boy Wonder’ and ‘Sad French Death Metal’. After Milner departed in 2004, substitute players covered his role on tour. Jarcrew’s final concert took place in December 2004; despite talk of a second studio album, the members never reconvened.