Introducing...Screaming Lights

By Greg Cochrane
Newsbeat music reporter

Liverpool's own box office busters, Liverpool's synth-rock trailblazers prepare for their big push.

Screaming Lights play this year's Reading and Leeds festivals

"The album is like a trailer for the movie and then you'll go and watch the film - that's the live show," muses Screaming Lights' front man Jay Treadell. "That's my analogy."

It's one which works.

For anyone who has witnessed them live, the Liverpool band's gigs are Tarrantino-esque.

They're volatile, high-drama affairs which, with Jay often attacking his equipment.

Forget popcorn fights for the moment though, their primary business, of course, is in writing songs instead of scripts.

Story so far

Today, as we interrupt Treadell demoing new material, it's more Home Alone 2 than Reservoir Dogs.

"Me mum and dad have gone away so I've taken all my stuff to their house and I've just got a week to do whatever I like," laughs Treadell. "It's brilliant."

Screaming Lights, the facts WHAT:Volatile Liverpudlian synth-rockers FOR FANS OF:White Lies, Editors, Nirvana DOWNLOAD:Volts CLICK ON: www.myspace.com/screaminglights LIVE: Playing at V Festival and Reading and Leeds

Not exactly exploding onto screens, so far the foursome's growth has been gradual and healthy garnering them comparisons to Placebo, Hadouken and White Lies.

Their influences though are more varied than that. Jay recently posted an online video - reminiscent of Little Boots' YouTube hits - of him covering Blur's End Of The Century with just a piano.

"With them coming back and doing Glastonbury and that it seemed like a good thing to do," he explains.

Having met at school at the age of 12, Jay recruited Alan Breen (bass) and James Connor (drums) "who lived over the road". Guitarist Max Goldberg joined later.

"It's scary, I know them better than I know me," he says.

They have been plotting towards their "big push".

With an album now complete - recorded with Dan Grech-Marguerat [Radiohead/Scissor Sisters] due out in October and new single Volts, it's a busy time.

There's also an appearance at this year's Reading and Leeds Festivals playing the BBC Introducing Stage.

"We've been rehearsing and gigging for two years but its finally getting to that serious point…we'll reveal Screaming Lights to everybody."