Contempo - It's Kicking Off (2000)

Richard Archer is the lead vocalist, guitarist, principal songwriter and main composer of indie rock band Hard-Fi, but before that he was a member of Staines-based band Contempo, which formed in 1997 and lasted for three years. The line-up consisted of Richard Archer on vocals and guitar, his brother Steve on bass, Steve Friend on guitar, Dave Teape on keyboards, and Steve Cutts on drums. In 1998 Contempo's first release was a limited 7" vinyl single on the Blue Dog label, featuring the tracks 'On The Floor' and 'Stronger'. 'My One Way Out' followed in 1999, and in 2000 Mick Jones produced demos that were intended to be released as an album, but whose release was delayed and then eventually cancelled. In November 2000 Contempo announced they had left London Records after months of a mutually tense relationship, and they released the single 'U B Naughty' on their own label Nu-Suburban Sounds, following this in 2001 with the six-track EP 'This Is Contempo', which featured the ska song 'Ain't Going Out Tonight' in two versions. A bootleg CD has since appeared of the 2000 demos, featuring early versions of what would later become the Hard-Fi tracks 'Better Do Better', 'Can't Get Along (Without You)', 'Living For The Weekend', 'Move On Now' and 'Unnecessary Trouble'. When Archer asked his publishers for some money to record new songs that he had written, they terminated his contract instead, and so he went on to form Hard-Fi, and the rest is history. This collection from Contempo includes all their singles and b-sides, plus an original song from their demo tape than wasn't later repurposed by Hard-Fi.

Track listing

01 On The Floor (single 1998)

02 Stronger (b-side of 'On The Floor')

03 My One Way Out (single 1999)

04 Waiting So Long (b-side of 'My One Way Out')
05 Big Time Promotion Man (b-side of 'My One Way Out')

06 It's Kicking Off (single 2000)

07 Twilight Zone (b-side of 'It's Kicking Off')

08 Say It Again (b-side of 'It's Kicking Off')

09 U B Naughty (single 2000)

10 Ain't Going Out Tonight (from the 'This Is Contempo' EP 2000) 
11 My Flat By The Police Station (from the 'This Is Contempo' EP 2000) 
12 London's Burning (from the 'This Is Contempo' EP 2000) 
13 Energy (from the 2000 demo recordings)