BIS Detour 7 inch 1999

BIS Action and Drama 7 inch 1999

Biography

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Taking inspiration from Huggy Bear, the Nation of Ulysses, Blur, and the "cutie" indie movement of Sarah Records, bis were one of the most unique bands in late-'90s British indie rock. Aggressively primitive, bis spearheaded "the Teen-C Revolution," crossing D.I.Y. aesthetics with the incessant bounce of new wave dance pop, anime and manga imagery, and a childlike outlook. Bursting out from nowhere in early 1996, bis became the first unsigned band to appear on Top of the Pops, and became a sensation within the British music press, with equally passionate positive and negative reviews. However, bis won fans in the Beastie Boys, who signed them to Grand Royal Records, positioning the band to join the ranks of the international pop underground. » Read more