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This Is: R.E.M.

Shiny Happy People - R.E.M.

R.E.M. - Losing My Religion (Lutzu Istrate Remix)

10 Degrees Of Pitch - Bang And Blame (R.E.M.)

Imitation of Life from R.E.M.'s "Reveal" album in 8-bit.

Imitation of Life (R.E.M.) in 8-bit

Man On The Moon (R.E.M.)

The One I Love - R.E.M.

Ten Degrees Of Pitch are a classic ‘post-kids’ band – two years in the rehearsal room before their first gig, lyrical themes that read like the international section of the Independent, and a name taken from a real-life air disaster. So far, so pretentious. But all three members have been around the block a bit, in bands since their teens, with bassist Jon claiming fame – and a songwriting credit – as a sound effects guru on the Grand Theft Auto videogame franchise. So they should, in theory at least, know what they’re doing. What actually happens is a combination of their formative musical styles – 90s grunge and funk, some country and western, a touch of pseudo-punk here and there – with a mature take on songwriting: no talk of ‘hoes’ or ‘homies’ to be found. The lyrical themes of songs like Fly The Flag (war from the point of view of the soldier), Shed These Skins (ageing and euthanasia) and Nigel’s Garage (erm…), might make for thoughtful and perhaps uncomfortable listening if you read the lyrics, but they’re all put to such urgent soundtracks you can just ignore the words and rock out instead. Their set can run for up to an hour, so there’s plenty of time in the middle for a spot of solo guitar looping from Martin, before climaxing with the end of human civilisation in Yellowstone Disaster.