Casey Miller; Drums. Drew McFadyen; Guitar, Vocals. Steven McGregor; Synths Vocals. Tommy Stuart; Vocals, Synths. The Magnificents met at Edinburgh Art College around the turn of the century. They were formed as a birthday present for a girlfriend and played a one off set of Northern Soul songs for their debut gig. People danced. Deciding this could be the least degrading post art college career choice they carried on. Forgetting to write any songs the second gig was 20 minutes of disturbing noise and feedback involving gas masks and wheelchairs and, head shaving. People cried. On their first European tour they were spotted playing in the pit of an abandoned steelworks by DJ Mooner owner of legendary underground record label Erkrankung Durch Musique who went on to put out their debut EP Kids Now in 2001. Over the years they have built a reputation as one of the most exciting and unpredictable live bands around and have toured with Stereolab, Trans Am, The Beta Band( the only band ever to do so) and Mogwai. Back in Edinburgh, hidden under the city in the rat and fungi infested M-Bunker they went on to record the 4 Claws of The Underground EP, followed by the self titled debut album released on Edinburghs own KFM Records. Don’t so much have influences as seem to have directly tapped into the lifeforce of the greats. 8/10 – NME