Scanners

Scanners is a London-based rock outfit formed roughly two and half years ago by Matt (guitar, vocals, synths) and Sarah (vocals, bass, violin). Before expanding to its current four person lineup, the band consisted solely of the two musicians, a drum machine and various synths. Humble beginnings, sure, but Mat and Sarah realized this. Amina (guitar, keys, bvs), a regular Scanners gig-goer, eventually joined the group. Finally, the band line-up was complete with the addition of Tom (drums), who had left the countryside to seek his fortune in London, but instead found Scanners.

Over the next year, Scanners took to the road, opening for bands such as The Wedding Present, The Fever, Electric Six and actress-turned-rocker Juliette Lewis' band, Juliette & The Licks. During this time, the band honed a sound that is equally informed by Terry Gilliam and Prince, David Lynch and Doris Day, as cinematic as it is fun. "In the confines of the band van, we spent a lot of time together," Mat says. "And we actually managed not to kill each other, which is usually a good sign. But we were also developing, and becoming the dynamic and exciting musical unit that we are today. Yes, indeed."

Not yet six feet under, but also growing bored waiting for someone to drop a fat pile of cash into their laps, Scanners had a fortuitous run-in with Dim Mak head honcho, Steve Aoki, who was in London and managed to make it to one of the band's rehearsals. "A few drinks and a vegetarian meal later, we realized if he wasn't the head of a company, we would have asked him to join the band," Mat says. Things as they were though, the band and Aoki's label decided to put out a record together.

Violence is Golden is the release in question, due out June 6, 2006 on Dim Mak. This is dramatic and oftentimes sexy music, the kind of record you can curl up with to commiserate over a bad night, but the kind that will also be ready to party once the weekend hits again.

"I know you're not ready to live/ Are you ready to die?" Sarah sings on "Low Life," before intoning later in the song, "This is a lonely time." Epitomizing what it is to be a young person in this day and age, Scanners know that sometimes life sucks, but you have to keep moving. After all, there are invigorating records like Violence is Golden out there, and if you sleep on them, you'll be sorely disappointed later.

Dim Mak Releases:
DM102 Scanners "Violence is Golder" CD out June 6, 2006

Listen
Lowlife from "Violence is Golden

Press

Check out pictures of SCANNERS at this years SXSW showcase.

Spin has much love for SCANNERS "Stumbling on their set at Beauty Bar while looking for another band, Scanners was the kind of happy accident that makes SXSW such an awesome adventure. Fronted by a raucous female lead singer (Sarah) and a scorching female lead guitarist (Amina), they were a refreshingly feminine jolt of London pop in a festival of bands that can sometimes be dominated by the boys."

"Since the days of Joy Division and the like, nobody has really grabbed the Moog and run with it as well as these two gals and guys. Lead singer Sarah Daly is a little bit Siouxsie, a little bit Stefani and is a darn fine, pitch-perfect, vibrato-free rock-&-roll singer."

Popmatters.com gives "Violence is Golden" and 8 out of 10. "Each number takes on a life of its own, but still hits all the criteria for a great song—great hook, great melody, and great delivery..." Click the banners to read the full article.

A stellar review from Lostatsea.net, 7/10, not too shabby. "All in all, the sonic crunch of Violence Is Golden is too good to ignore and it is a sleek machine. But unlike in the 1981 sci-fi movie of the same name, these Scanners are not equipped with psychic, or sonic, powers that can cause heads to explode..." well that's what you think. Click the banner to read the whole article.

A nice little endorsement of Violence is Golden from Independentsonly.com. [Scanners sound is] Very rock but also very well schooled in pop and how to make a song stick to the listener's memory. The guitars and keys set the mood with addictive rhythms, and first draw you in before you become completely enthralled with that voice. click the banner for the full review.

Here a really positive review from Treblezine.com. ""Lowlife" is one of the best songs on the album. This is the song Brandon Flowers would write if he wore black lace and, well, was a girl. The hooks are incredibly catchy and Daly's musky voice interweaves nicely with Matt Mole's angular guitar work." Click the banner to read teh full review.

Check out this superb review of "Violence is Golden" from Never News. "...when the band is as tight as Scanners—we've got some seriously well-placed balance between distortion and clean guitar (Changing Times), some fantastic rhythm section unity, and lyrics that are just well-thought out enough as to not alienate us from either a) idiocy or b) Oberst-style intimacy." Click the banner for the full review.

Here is a nice little right up about Scanners from Big Stereo. "...Scanners is some catchy brit pop that is like the perfect way to end this week and head into the weekend. It’s chill yet it still holds an edge. Give it a try."

Cool little review from Space City Rock, "On "Lowlife," the first single off the disc -- and without a doubt, the best track -- old-school indie-drone guitars drive the song gently along while Daly pleads and cries beautifully; it's an addictive burst of melancholy pop, and it's already got me coming back for repeated listenings." Click image for full review.

A extremely positive review from Independent Clauses. Click the banner to go to the website, the full review can be found here.
"From across the ocean comes London's Scanners with their album Violence Is Golden - a powerful alternative rock four-piece with a nice contrast of new wave pop and indie punk influences.
There is no doubt "Low Life" is classic track and an easy selection as the album's lead single. Pretty much everything about this track is perfect, as Sarah Daly's voice is captivating over the subtle guitar, bass, and drum work. All of this is enhanced with some nicely orchestrated keyboards which add significantly more depth to the song. This song boasts an extremely powerful chorus that would seem repetitive if it wasn't so damn catchy. Sarah not only lends her voice to the band but also multitasks and handles the bass work. Her rhythm partner, Tom Hutt, is generally a well-oiled drum machine but can also add some eclectic styles if the song calls for it. Then there is the gifted fret work of Matt Mole on the guitar, who also lends his voice as back up to Sarah's. Last, and most certainly not least, is Amina Bates, who handles all the wonderful keyboard and sampling work which shines throughout the album and really adds another dimension to the music as a whole. She also handles the second guitar. So, as you can see, they are clearly skillful and well varied musicians.
Scanners is not just a one trick pony, as there are a few other real hits on the album. "Changing Times" is a emotive powerhouse layered with new wave dissonance. Standing as the album's longest song at 5:09, this song adds some great progressive elements to make you wish the track was even longer. This song succeeds where some of the album's other tracks fell short and, at times, were too repetitive. For example the tranquil "In My Dreams" has the potential to be one of the album's top tracks but falls into repetition and is either too long at a mere four minutes, or should be pushed deeper into the progressive scope. That said, "Look What You've Started" is one of the album's finest numbers. Though familiar in structure, this song really has what "In My Dreams" lacks- and with a more focused delivery it is able to hold the listener's full attention for the duration of the track.
Another factor which I am quite fond of is their gift for variation. Aside from the songs mentioned above, Scanners also incorporate such influences as punk ("Bombs" and "Air 164"), British new wave ("Joy" and "Raw”), and experimental ("Evil Twin" and "High Flier") to give this album some good variation. All their styles fuse together on the title track "Violence is Golden", leading the album to a perfect climax. This is likely my favorite song on the album, and leaves me wanting to give this disc another spin to see what I may have missed.
Scanners may not have yet created their magnum opus; however, with the recently released Violence is Golden, they have solidified their claim as legitimate musicians and artists. At this point the future only holds only good things for this UK foursome."

-Josh Hogan
josh@orchidscurse.com

Solid "B+" review from The Music Edge for "Violence is Golden", click the logo to read the full review.

Check it out, an EPIC review from Transform Online, and these guys know their music. "Scanners are one of those bands that you can't believe aren't selling millions of records. They possess all of the qualities one would need to achieve such a task: instrumental talent, a deep appreciation for all that is rock and roll, a leader with both voice and look, and choruses that imbed themselves deep into to the listener's subconscious". Click the transform logo to read the full article.

Solid solid review for "Violence is Golden" from The Great Nothing. "Where Violence is Golden is great is the fact that this band knows how to deliver this style with grace and passion. So many bands of this style just end up sounding like stale rehashes or The Cure wannabes but Scanners manage to avoid the mess and establish themselves as unique in sound from the very first moments of "Joy."". click the banner to read the full review.

Scanners Take Over Hollywood
Here is a news bit from tripwire.com about Scanners trip to California a few weeks ago.

A nice little positive review from The Fire Note.com. Click the album cover to see the full article.

"But as Violence Is Golden unfolds, Scanners prove that they're quirkier and more eclectic than many of their contemporaries. Even their more typical takes on the post-punk sound have a distinctive stamp, particularly on the surprisingly earnest single "Lowlife."' Click the logo to read the full Barnes and Noble.com review

"Violence Is Golden is a fine introduction from a group that knows how to write modern rock songs, and with it the members of Scanners have proved they are just as good as their contemporaries, such as Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Kills." Click the Image to read the whole article.

Click the image to read the full Pitchfork review of the Scanners "Lowlife" single. 3 1/2 stars out of 4!!

Great review from Scene Point Blank. "There's no reason why this band shouldn't have just as much acclaim or airplay as Franz Ferdinand or Scanners' labelmates Bloc Party. Part of Violence is Golden's charm is the contrast to the majority of debut albums released nowadays as it has more of a warm familiar tone that seems to be missing from their lesser peers." Click image for full review.

Here's a nice little review of "Violence is Golden" from the Sentimentalist Mag.
"Scanners - Violence is Golden CD
Would you expect anything less than greatness from a Dim Mak release?  Scanners drift under the radar with a soaring new release.  A UK import, Scanners weave later period Blondie and The Peej.  With its clever lyrics and spiky guitars, "Joy" is a pseudo 80's, soon to be mega hit, but the real stunner on this disc is "Lowlife".  This song should be the soundtrack for the summer of 2006, and there are still nine more songs to choose from... --CD"

Scanner's do a little Editorial about George W., UK style

Thetripwire.com did a solid review of Violence is Golden. "Scanners is straight-ahead rock that moves between stage-dive worthy tracks to wrist slitting epitaphs about life. Even when a song rhythmically bounces with a poppy sound, the band retains a grimy feel." Check it out the entire review by clicking the logo.

Scanners' "Violence is Golden" is one of the recommended downloads/bands this wook on iriveramerica.com. Check it out and download their album.

Scanners Interview


The good people at Aversion.com did a excellent interview with Scanners. Click the images to read the full interview.

Allmusic.com has a great review of the new Scanners album, But as Violence Is Golden unfolds, Scanners prove that they're quirkier and more eclectic than many of their contemporaries. Damn straight! Click the logo to read the full review.

Our good friends at Aversion.com did an excellent review of "Violence is Golden", ...Violence is Golden mixes up new wave, modern pop and dashes of gloomy post-punk era proto-Goths such as Joy Division or Bauhaus for a album that's immediately accessible, yet never reliant upon its past. Click the logo to read the full review.

Scanners Getting Buzz in NME


"We need less boring,boring indie boys! Think we need an injection of snarling grrrl voices? Me too! That's why I'm bloody obsessed with snarling London rawk types Scanners whose singer Sarah is a shining bright star in its ascendancy. They're like all the songs Kim Gordon sings in Sonic Youth, but played by Motorhead at their early-'80s peak. And if that doesn't sound brilliant to you, perhaps it might be worth slicing off your ears and giving them to someone who deserves them, yeah?"

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