Ekobob

Ekobob formed in Manchester in the mid-2000s, with Sam Allen as their frontman. Their name came from inverting 'Bob Roberts,' which gives you a sense of their approach. They put out their debut album 'Recent Medical Treatment' in 2007, a record that dealt with the aftermath of a serious medical procedure. The song titles and themes often circled around identity and alienation, but they kept the arrangements intricate and the melodies soaring.

Their music mixed experimental rock with ambient textures, which made it hard to pin down. Critics were divided, some called it innovative, others found it inaccessible. By 2010 they'd released another album called 'The State of Everything,' which pushed further into experimental territory. They never seemed interested in fitting neatly into any category.