If you ever woke up fuzzy headed in Bethnal Green after a weekday night spent staggering between various East End bars circa-2005, you may already be fondly familiar with Francophile noisesmiths The Mardous. A smidgen more artrock than the urchin-rock of their mid-noughties kin, after putting out ace single ‘Revolution Over The Phone’ on Alan McGee’s Poptones label at the height of pre-indiesleaze Strokes/Libertines mania and featuring in a slew of high-end fashion mags, the sometime foursome, sometime trio called it a day before the extent of their scintillating trove saw the light of day.
Thank all of the Gods bashing their drums in the Valhalla of Rock, then, for the current 2000s renaissance, as after nearly twenty years we’re eventually getting to hear what else The Mardous put down on wax. With a full album coming down the line, our first treat is new single ‘Tonic and Gin’: a roaring, spirit and mixer inspired title that takes a steely bassline and yoyoing rhythm, using the pairing to tell of a lovelorn tippling alliance bowling down the Champs-Elysees, belting out a riotous chorus of “la la la la la la la la”.
Flipside ‘Like a Robot’ is a naively fragile anthem that frontman Ross Stewart ensures stays powerfully reigned in, eventually evaporating instead of being allowed to float off into Coldplay realms of lofty tunefulness. Although highly tipped by many, many fuzzy heads two decades ago, the time feels ripe now for The Mardous to reap the more clear-headed but equally enthused appreciation in 2025 they’ve always deserved.
The Mardous are Ross Stewart – vocals and bass, Benny Duff – guitar and Stevie Durkin – drums. ‘Tonic and Gin’ was recorded in December 2005 at Resident Studios, Willesden Green, London. If you were quick enough off the mark to get tickets for The Paddingtons sold out gig at The Adelphi, Hull, in April then you’ll be able to catch the lads for their first reformed live gig. Otherwise, strap yourselves in for more single releases, shows and a long-awaited album in the pipeline.
In the meantime, you can get your lugs around the single below: