The Slides

The Slides, a London outfit steeped in retro charm and late-'60s charisma, stepped onto the British pop scene in 2003. Fronting the group were vocalist and guitarist Rod Da Rosa from Newport, South Wales, alongside bassist Matt Brana-Martin of Birmingham, drummer Colin Oldfield from Wigan, and Hammond organist Ian Compton out of Surrey. The quartet first drew notice in 2002 as one of Britain’s most promising acts after claiming victory in the Emergenza U.K. Battle of the Bands. Out of more than 350 entrants they finished first, securing the right to represent England at the European finals during the Taubertal Festival in Germany and thereby lifting their profile considerably. That same year the band inked a deal with the independent London imprint MVine Records. Their opening single, “Can You Feel It,” helmed by veteran producer Max Hayes, stirred anticipation for the subsequent six-song mini-album Slow Bullet. The release generated widespread attention across alternative outlets, cementing the Slides’ standing as Britain’s “Next Big Thing.” Momentum continued to build ahead of an extensive summer tour that launched in May 2007. Eschewing any rush to saturate the marketplace, the group instead kept their swelling audience eager for the still-unreleased full-length album.